Chinese researchers have developed a liquid cooling system using ammonium thiocyanate that achieves rapid cooling in 20 seconds. By mimicking the squeeze of a wet sponge through pressure changes, it instantly absorbs massive heat, potentially offsetting the soaring energy demands of AI data centers.
Researchers at the Institute of Metal Research, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, led by Li Bing, have harnessed the unique behavior of ammonium thiocyanate in water under pressure to create a liquid cooling system. It mimics squeezing a “wet sponge”—releasing pressure triggers rapid redissolution of the salt, absorbing massive amounts of heat almost instantly.
In experiments, a saturated solution cooled by 30 degrees Celsius (54 Fahrenheit) within seconds at room temperature, and in hotter environments, the drop exceeded 50 degrees. This technology could power critical infrastructure, offsetting the soaring energy consumption and cooling demands of AI data centers.
Amid the US-China AI race, with figures like OpenAI's Sam Altman driving US efforts, this innovation from China, published in Nature, highlights potential edges in fluorocarbon gases and supercooling for data centers.
