Electrocaloric properties of Sr and Sn doped BCZT lead-free ceramics

Abstract

In the present work, the electrocaloric (EC) effect in lead-free Sr and Sn doped (Ba0.85 Ca0.075 Sr0.075 )(Zr0.1 Ti0.88 Sn0.02 )O3 ceramic prepared by solid-state method has been investigated. The phase purity and pure perovskite phase formation with Sr and Sn doping is confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The adiabatic temperature change ΔT (due to the EC effect), entropy change (ΔS) and refrigeration capacity (RC) are estimated under various electric fields. The maximum peak values of ΔT, ΔS and RC are found as 1.5 K, 1.8 J/kg.K and 2.75 J/kg, respectively under the applied electric field of 33 kV/cm at 305 K. It is also observed that the ΔT, ΔS and RC decreases with an increase in applied temperature. Moreover, the estimated values of EC properties are significantly high which indicates that fabrication of Sr and Sn doped lead-free ceramics can be advantageous for EC applications.