2017 Gold Medal Award

The group is recognized for performing a systematic and exhaustive search for the next generation of refrigerants. Current refrigerants are potent greenhouse gases and are being phased out globally. The industries that produce refrigerants and use them in refrigeration systems require new fluids to meet demanding efficiency, reliability, and safety requirements. The team applied its combined expertise in chemistry, thermodynamics, and refrigeration to screen 60 million molecules, identifying the 27 best candidates for the next generation of refrigerants.