Record cryogenic cooling in ferroelectric hafnia proximity induced via Mott transition

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a cryogenic electrocaloric cooling method using ferroelectric hafnia influenced by a Mott transition in TiOx(Ny), achieving record refrigeration capacities at temperatures relevant for quantum tech.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to induce large electrocaloric effects in hafnia via proximity to a Mott transition, enabling efficient cryogenic refrigeration.

Findings

Peak refrigerant capacity of 25 kJ/kg at ~140 K

Achieved adiabatic cooling of ~11 K at 140 K

Largest electrocaloric effects reported in such systems

Abstract

On-chip refrigeration at cryogenic temperatures is becoming an important requirement in the context of quantum technologies and nanoelectronics. Ferroic materials with enhanced electrocaloric effects at phase transitions are good material candidates for the same. By exploiting the Mott metal-insulator transition (MIT) of TiOx(Ny), the bottom electrode, we engineer a depolarization field controlled reversible polar to non-polar phase transition in thick La-doped hafnia (40 nm). This transition occurs between ~125 and 140 K and produces giant negative pyroelectric and electrocaloric effects. Refrigeration metrics were estimated between 120 to 200 K, with a peak refrigerant capacity of 25 kJ Kg-1 (2 kJ Kg-1), peak isothermal entropy {\Delta}S~ 8 kJ Kg-1 K-1 (0.5 kJ Kg-1 K-1) and adiabatic {\Delta}Tcooling ~ 106 K (11 K) at ~140 K and 5 MV cm-1 (0.5 MV cm-1, and these are the largest reported in any electrocaloric system. Our work fundamentally proposes design guidelines to induce significant solid-state refrigeration through proximity effects, even at cryogenic temperatures relevant to quantum technologies.