Enhanced electrocaloric effect in Ba_0.85Ca_0.15Zr_0.1Ti_0.9–xSn_xO₃ ferroelectric ceramics

ABSTRACT

The present work deals with the study of effect of Sn addition (0%–6% by mole) on the electrocaloric (EC) performance of Ba_0.85Ca_0.15Zr_0.1Ti_0.9O₃ (BCZT) ceramics. Maxwell's relations in conjunction with data from experimental observations were used for the indirect caloric measurements. Small percentage change with Sn addition is found to increase the EC performance of BCZT ceramics. A peak adiabatic temperature change of 0.84 K (353 K) was predicted for 0–32 kV/cm electric field, significantly higher than pristine BCZT ceramics. A simultaneous increase in specific entropy change was also observed.

KEYWORDS:

• Electrocaloric
• ferroelectric
• solid-state refrigeration
• lead-free

Acknowledgments

Rahul Vaish acknowledges the support from the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi, India, through a grant by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi, under INSPIRE Faculty Award-2011 (ENG-01) and INSA Young Scientists Medal-2013.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi: INSPIRE Faculty Award-2011 (ENG-01) and INSA Young Scientists Medal-2013.