Pascal is updating heat pump and refrigerator hardware with a solid-state material that can make systems about 20% more efficient than existing models. Its cartridges compress carbon dioxide into a porous, sponge-like material, which moves heat without relying on the refrigerant approach used in conventional systems.
Two cartridges run at a time, with one pulling heat from inside the unit while the other sends it outward. The material has been cycled up to 300,000 times, and the system does not require the high pressures that other solid-state refrigerants can need. That durability turns a lab material into something closer to a working appliance component.
A pilot with a multinational beverage company and a prototype due early next year put the technology on a path toward real deployments. If Pascal can keep the system efficient and affordable, it could make lower-climate-impact refrigeration easier to build into mainstream equipment.
Image Credit: Pascal
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Solid-state Refrigeration
- Material-based cooling systems create openings for appliance platforms that reduce mechanical complexity, refrigerant dependence, and energy consumption.
- Porous CO₂ Materials
- Sponge-like carbon capture structures introduce new thermal management formats where gases can be stored, compressed, and reused inside compact cartridges.
- Low-pressure Heat Pumps
- Safer pressure profiles expand the potential for efficient heating and cooling hardware across homes, retail sites, and industrial environments.
Sectors Adopting This
- Home Appliances
- Next-generation refrigerators and heat pumps gain differentiation through quieter, more efficient components with lower climate impact.
- Beverage and Foodservice
- Commercial coolers and vending equipment benefit from energy-saving refrigeration designs that support sustainability targets at large deployment scales.
- Clean Technology
- Climate-focused hardware companies gain a pathway to replace high-impact refrigerants with durable solid-state materials in mainstream cooling systems.
