# Electric field induced phase transition and electrocaloric effect in PMN-PT

## TL;DR

This study uses molecular dynamics to explore electric field-induced phase transitions and the electrocaloric effect in PMN-PT, revealing maximum EC strength at the morphotropic phase boundary due to polarization rotation.

## Contribution

It demonstrates the electric field-induced phase transition and maximal electrocaloric effect in PMN-PT at room temperature within the MPB region, providing insights for cooling applications.

## Key findings

- Maximum EC strength occurs at the MPB region at 300 K.
- Large temperature change is due to polarization rotation.
- Electrocaloric effect is optimized near the phase boundary.

## Abstract

Ferroelectric perovskite oxides possess a large electrocaloric (EC) effect, but usually at high temperatures near the ferroelectric/paraelectric phase transition temperature, which limits their potential application as next-generation solid-state cooling devices. We use classical molecular dynamics to study the electric field induced phase transitions and EC effect in PMN-PT (PbMg1/3Nb2/3O3-PbTiO3). We find that the maximum EC strength of PMN-PT occurs within the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) region at 300 K. The large adiabatic temperature change is caused by easy rotation of polarization within the MPB region.

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/1706.01034