A new approach to cooling
Startup Pascal is developing a solid-state system for refrigerators and heat pumps that it says could improve efficiency by about 20% compared with current models. The technology grew out of materials research led by co-founder Adam Slavney and colleagues at Harvard University.
Instead of compressing a solid block, the system moves carbon dioxide through a cartridge containing a proprietary, sponge-like material. Gas molecules interact with the material's pores, transferring heat that can then be moved by a heat exchanger. Reversing the process allows the system to absorb heat.
Pascal says the material has been tested through 300,000 cycles. Its approach uses conventional system components and operates at lower pressures than some other solid-state refrigeration designs, which could help make the technology more accessible to manufacture.
From research to prototypes
The company has raised $8.5 million in a follow-on to its seed round and signed a pilot agreement with a multinational beverage company. Pascal plans to deliver its first prototype next year, with a more developed batch of refrigerators targeted for 2028.
If the performance claims hold up in practical use, solid-state cooling could offer a new route to more efficient refrigerators and heat pumps, with future adoption depending on successful testing and manufacturing at scale.
