Quasi-indirect measurement of electrocaloric temperature change in PbSc0.5Ta0.5O3 via comparison of adiabatic and isothermal electrical polarization data

TL;DR

This study introduces a quasi-indirect method to measure the electrocaloric temperature change in PbSc0.5Ta0.5O3 by comparing isothermal and adiabatic polarization data, revealing a maximum temperature change of about 2 K.

Contribution

It presents a novel quasi-indirect measurement approach for electrocaloric effects, complementing existing methods and enabling routine application.

Findings

Maximum temperature change of ~2 K at 26 kV/cm

Electrocaloric effect observed in the 300-315 K range

Method combines isothermal and adiabatic polarization data

Abstract

Electrically driven adiabatic changes of temperature are identified in the archetypal electrocaloric material PbSc0.5Ta0.5O3 by comparing isothermal changes of electrical polarization due to slow variation of electric field, and adiabatic changes of electrical polarization due to fast variation of electric field. By obtaining isothermal (adiabatic) electrical polarization data at measurement (starting) temperatures separated by <0.4 K, we identify a maximum temperature change of ~2 K due to a maximum field change of 26 kV cm-1, for starting temperatures in the range 300 - 315 K. These quasi indirect measurements combine with their direct, indirect and quasi-direct counterparts to complete the set, and could find routine use in future.