A research team from the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) has made significant strides in cooling technology by developing Korea’s first full-cycle magnetic cooling system. Led by Dr. Jong-Woo Kim and Dr. Da-Seul Shin, this innovative solution aims to replace conventional gas refrigerants with eco-friendly alternatives, addressing pressing environmental concerns while advancing energy efficiency.
The new magnetic cooling technology operates on the magnetocaloric effect, which allows for cooling without gas refrigerants. When exposed to an external magnetic field, the temperature of specific refrigerant materials changes, providing a sustainable cooling method. Despite its potential, the commercialization of this technology has previously been hampered by high manufacturing costs and reliance on rare-earth elements, which can hinder competitiveness in the market.
The KIMS team has synthesized various magnetocaloric materials, including lanthanum-based and manganese-based alloys. They successfully fabricated large-area thin sheets and fine wires through advanced techniques such as hot rolling, cold drawing, and micro-channel machining. Notably, they produced La-based sheets with a thickness of 0.5 mm and Gd-based fine wires with a diameter of 1.0 mm, showcasing exceptional performance at the component level.
To further enhance the technology, the research team focused on non-rare-earth manganese-based materials, achieving improved cooling performance by managing thermal hysteresis and tuning magnetic anisotropy. They also created Korea’s first measurement system to monitor adiabatic temperature changes in magnetic cooling materials, allowing for precise verification of properties and optimized designs for future applications.
Regulatory Changes and Market Potential
The global landscape for refrigerants is shifting, especially with regulations tightening under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. By 2030, the production and use of major gas refrigerants, including HFCs, HCFCs, and R22, will be completely banned. This evolving regulatory framework makes the need for alternative cooling technologies like magnetic refrigeration not just advantageous but essential.
Countries such as Germany have already seen promising results from magnetic cooling systems that outperform traditional refrigeration methods. These developments suggest that magnetic cooling technology is emerging as a substantial player in the market, aligning with global decarbonization efforts.
KIMS continues to strengthen its technological edge in magnetic cooling through impactful publications and key patents. The team has achieved international competitiveness in both component manufacturing and the development of non-rare-earth magnetic refrigerant materials.
Dr. Jong-Woo Kim, the principal researcher, emphasized the importance of this breakthrough, stating, “Once commercialized, this technology will overcome the limitations of conventional gas-based cooling systems and provide an eco-friendly and stable cooling solution.” Senior Researcher Dr. Da-Seul Shin added, “Through this creative convergence research project, we aim to further advance magnetocaloric technology and establish a domestic industrial infrastructure for it, while also expanding into the global market.”
This research was supported by the Basic Research Program of KIMS and the Creative Convergence Research Program of the National Research Council of Science and Technology (NST). The findings were published in May 2025 in the academic journal Rare Metals, with Ph.D. candidate Sun-Young Yang as the first author. The team has also filed a domestic patent related to the magnetic cooling evaluation system and a corresponding application in the United States.
KIMS, a non-profit government-funded research institute under the Ministry of Science and ICT of the Republic of Korea, plays a pivotal role in advancing materials science. As the only institute focused on comprehensive materials technologies in Korea, KIMS contributes significantly to the nation’s industrial capabilities through extensive research and development activities.
