Large enhancement of the electrocaloric effect in PLZT ceramics prepared by hot-pressing

Guangzu Zhang; Zhibiao Chen; Baoyan Fan; Jianguo Liu; Mo Chen; Meng Shen; Pin Liu; Yike Zeng; Shenglin Jiang; Qing Wang

doi:10.1063/1.4950844

APL Materials (Jun 2016)

Large enhancement of the electrocaloric effect in PLZT ceramics prepared by hot-pressing

Guangzu Zhang,
Zhibiao Chen,
Baoyan Fan,
Jianguo Liu,
Mo Chen,
Meng Shen,
Pin Liu,
Yike Zeng,
Shenglin Jiang,
Qing Wang

Affiliations

Guangzu Zhang: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
Zhibiao Chen: School of Optical and Electronic Information, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
Baoyan Fan: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
Jianguo Liu: Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
Mo Chen: School of Optical and Electronic Information, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
Meng Shen: School of Optical and Electronic Information, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
Pin Liu: School of Optical and Electronic Information, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
Yike Zeng: School of Optical and Electronic Information, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
Shenglin Jiang: School of Optical and Electronic Information, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
Qing Wang: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4950844
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 4, no. 6
pp. 064103 – 064103-6

Abstract

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In this contribution, we demonstrate the optimization of the microstructures of the Pb0.85La0.1(Zr0.65Ti0.35)O3 (PLZT) relaxor ferroelectric ceramics and subsequent enhancements in their polarization and electrical resistivity by using a hot-pressing process. The resulting superior breakdown strength of hot-pressed PLZT enables the application of high electric field to induce a giant electrocaloric effect, in which the adiabatic change of temperature (ΔT) and the isothermal change of entropy (ΔS) are around 2 times greater than those of the samples prepared by the conventional sintering approach using muffle furnace. Moreover, the addition of extra PbO to make up the loss of Pb in the high-temperature sintering leads to the further improvements in the phase composition and electrical properties of PLZT, due to inhibition of the pyrochlore phase formation. The relationship among the sintering conditions, the content of excess PbO, and the microstructure as well as the electrical characteristics of PLZT have been investigated in a systematic manner. This work provides a facile approach to enhanced electrocaloric effect in bulk ceramics.

Published in APL Materials

ISSN: 2166-532X (Online)
Publisher: AIP Publishing LLC
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology: Biotechnology; Science: Physics
Website: http://aplmaterials.aip.org

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