A new era in cooling technology is arriving, departing from gas-based refrigerants to unlock high-efficiency, eco-friendly solid-state cooling. This shift is powered by magnetic refrigeration, which leverages the magnetocaloric effect to change a material’s temperature when exposed to a magnetic field. The breakthrough comes from Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) researchers, led by Dr. Jong-Woo Kim and Dr. Da-Seul Shin, who have developed Korea’s first complete magnetic cooling system, including materials, components, and modules, aiming to address environmental concerns tied to traditional refrigerants and to introduce a market-ready green alternative.
Key advancements and what they mean
- Material innovations: The team synthesized a range of magnetocaloric materials, notably La-based and Mn-based alloys. They then fabricated both sheets (La-based thin sheets about 0.5 mm thick) and fine wires (Gd-based wires around 1.0 mm diameter) using processes like hot rolling, cold drawing, and micro-channel machining. These steps enabled near-net shaping to boost cooling efficiency and reliability, marking a significant leap toward scalable production.
- Non-rare-earth options and performance tuning: For Mn-based materials that don’t rely on rare earth elements, cooling performance improved through controlling thermal hysteresis and adjusting magnetic anisotropy, addressing cost and supply concerns while maintaining efficiency.
- Direct measurement capabilities: Korea’s first measurement system capable of directly monitoring adiabatic temperature changes in magnetic cooling materials and components was developed, allowing precise verification of material and process-dependent properties and supporting optimization across materials, components, and modules. This is a foundational capability for industrial-scale development.
Global context and stakes
- Regulatory momentum: International policies are tightening around refrigerants, with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol phasing out major gas refrigerants (HFCs, HCFCs, and R22) after 2030 and banning disposable containers and recycled refrigerants, pushing markets toward alternative technologies.
- Early performance indicators: In advanced countries, studies and demonstrations report magnetic cooling systems achieving coefficients of performance (COP) exceeding those of conventional gas-based systems, signaling magnetic refrigeration as a serious next-generation option in the global market.
Implications and outlook
- Economic and environmental impact: If scalable and cost-competitive, magnetic cooling could reduce reliance on rare-earth materials and greenhouse gas refrigerants, cutting lifecycle emissions and potentially lowering operating costs through higher efficiency. This aligns with decarbonization goals and climate initiatives worldwide.
- Domestic and international progress: The Korea team’s work strengthens national capability in magnetic cooling, with publications and patents advancing both material science and manufacturing technologies, and positioning Korea as a leader in this emerging field.
Leadership voices and funding
- Principal researcher Dr. Jong-Woo Kim emphasizes that commercialization will overcome the limitations of gas-based systems, delivering a stable, eco-friendly cooling solution. Senior researcher Dr. Da-Seul Shin highlights collaborative convergence research as a path to domestic industrial infrastructure and global expansion.
- Funding supports from Korea Institute of Materials Science and NST’s Creative Convergence Research Program underpin the project, underscoring national investment in next-generation cooling tech.
About the institution
- Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) is a government-funded, non-profit research institute under Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT. It specializes in comprehensive materials technologies, supporting industry through R&D, testing, and technology services.
Publication and intellectual property
- The findings were published in May 2025 in Rare Metals, a high-impact journal, with a Ph.D. candidate as first author, and domestic patenting activity around the magnetic cooling evaluation system, plus US patent filings, signaling strong academic and legal progress.
If you’re curious about magnetic cooling, consider these thought-provoking questions:
- Could magnetic refrigeration become the mainstream method for household appliances within the next decade, given regulatory pressures and tangible performance gains?
- What trade-offs might arise between material costs, manufacturing complexity, and long-term energy savings when scaling this technology?
- How might policy incentives or international collaboration accelerate the deployment of magnetocaloric cooling worldwide?
Further reading and sources
- Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) official site for background on the institution and project context.
