Electrocaloric effect in KH$_2$PO$_4$

TL;DR

This paper investigates the electrocaloric effect in KH$_2$PO$_4$ ferroelectrics by modifying the proton ordering model to include non-linear effects, calculating various properties, and comparing results with experimental data.

Contribution

It introduces a modified proton ordering model that accounts for non-linear effects and provides detailed calculations of electrocaloric and dielectric properties.

Findings

Good agreement with experimental data

Smearing of phase transition by electric field

Electrocaloric effect characterized in KH$_2$PO$_4$

Abstract

The proton ordering model for the KH$_{2}$PO$_{4}$ type ferroelectrics is modified by taking into account non-linear effects, namely, the dependence of the effective dipole moments on the proton ordering parameter. Within the four-particle cluster approximation we calculate the crystal polarization, longitudinal dielectric permittivity, specific heat, and explore the electrocaloric effect. Smearing of the ferroelectric phase transition by the longitudinal electric field is described. A good agreement with experiment is obtained.