One of our most active lines of research is currently focused on the development of advanced solid materials (organic-inorganic hybrids and “plastic crystals”) that allow us to cool our world (food, medicines, buildings, electronic equipment, etc.) in an efficient and environmentally friendly manner.
The importance of advancing in this field is clear, given that more than 20% of the world’s energy consumption already corresponds to refrigeration, and is expected to grow significantly in the coming decades. Current technology, based on gas compression, is not only energy inefficient, but also uses as refrigerants substances that are mostly greenhouse gases and / or highly toxic. New legislative regulations, increasingly restrictive, are forcing to reduce these gases and even eliminate them in an attempt to curb global warming of the planet.
