Cooling Semiconductors with Light: The Role of Electron–Phonon Interactions and Nanostructures

Optical cooling in semiconductors, driven by anti-Stokes photoluminescence, represents an innovative approach to noncontact cooling that fundamentally differs from conventional heat conduction-based methods. Recent advancements have identified materials with strong electron-phonon interactions, such as halide perovskites, as promising candidates for enhancing cooling efficiency through phonon-assisted photoabsorption processes. This Perspective explores the critical role of electron-phonon interactions in determining optical cooling performance and highlights the recent developments in semiconductor quantum dots, offering insights into the future of this emerging technology.