Elastocaloric cooling is a solid-state cooling technology based on the latent heat associated with the stress-induced phase transformation in elastocaloric materials. It is harmless to the environment

with remarkable theoretical system efficiency and cooling power density. Recently

rapid developments in elastocaloric cooling technology have been reported at research institutes in Europe and the USA. Some first-generation prototypes have been successfully developed and are properly functioning. As a guide for future related studies in China

this paper introduces the state-of-the-art and major challenges of this technology

including thermodynamic fundamentals

elastocaloric materials

prototype developments

and numerical simulations. Based on the literature

current elastocaloric refrigerators offer up to 14% Carnot cycle efficiency

a figure expected to exceed 30% in the near future; there is still significant potential for improvement when compared with the 80% Carnot efficiency offered by elastocaloric materials. Consequently

we can optimistically expect that elastocaloric cooling technology will experience faster growth and wider applicability in the future.