Lead-free Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.10Ti0.90O3 (BCZT) ceramic exhibits excellent dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties at the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB). Previously, we demonstrated that the use of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS, NaC12H25SO4) could enhance the dielectric properties of BCZT ceramic using surfactant-assisted solvothermal processing [1]. In the present study, structural, dielectric, ferroelectric properties, as well as electrocaloric effect and energy storage performances of this BCZT ceramic were thoroughly investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements revealed the presence of single perovskite phase at room temperature with the coexistence of orthorhombic and tetragonal symmetries. In-situ Raman spectroscopy results confirmed the existence of all phase transitions from rhombohedral through orthorhombic and tetragonal to cubic symmetries when the temperature varies as reported in undoped-BaTiO3. Evolution of energy storage performances with temperature have been investigated. BCZT ceramic exhibits a high energy storage efficiency of ~ 80% at 120 °C. In addition, the electrocaloric responsivity was found to be 0.164 × 10−6 K·m/V at 363 K.

Phase transitions, energy storage performances and electrocaloric effect of the lead-free Ba 0.85 Ca 0.15 Zr 0.10 Ti 0.90 O 3 ceramic relaxor

The paper presents progress in infrared (IR) detector technologies during 200 history of their development. Classification of two types of IR detectors (photon detectors and thermal detectors) is done on the basis of their principle of operation. The overview of IR systems and detectors is presented. Also recent progress in different IR technologies is described. Discussion is focused mainly on current and the most rapidly developing detectors: HgCdTe heterostructure photodiodes, quantum well AlGaAs/GaAs photoresistors, and thermal detectors. The outlook for near-future trends in IR technologies is also presented.

Infrared detectors: an overview

In this work, the piezoelectric and dielectric properties of [001]-oriented 0.7Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.3PbTiO3 single crystals under alternating current poling (ACP) at different temperatures were studied. The piezoelectric coefficients (d33 ∼ 1930 pC/N, d31 ∼ −850 pC/N) and free dielectric permittivity (eT33/e0 ∼ 7570) reached their highest values when the poling temperature (Tpoling) was 70 °C. Compared with traditional direct current electric field poling at 20 °C, 70 °C-ACP samples showed an enhancement of 40%, 35%, and 49% for d33, d31, and eT33/e0, respectively. Meanwhile, d33 and eT33/e0 were enhanced by about 9% when Tpoling increased from 20 °C to 70 °C under ACP, while d31 remained the same value and the dielectric loss was lowered from 0.29% to 0.22%. Moreover, ACP samples with different Tpoling have similar electromechanical coupling factors (k31 ∼ 0.44, kt ∼ 0.60). A discussion of the mechanism for the ACP enhancement was based on the domain observation using piezoresponse force microscopy, and the results showed that the domain densities of ACP samples with different Tpoling were positively correlated with their piezoelectric properties. This work demonstrated the enormous potential of ACP optimization for relaxor-PT single crystal applications.

Effect of poling temperature on piezoelectric and dielectric properties of 0.7Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.3PbTiO3 single crystals under alternating current poling

A Study on the Relationship Between Grain Size and Electrical Properties in (K,Na)NbO3-Based Lead-Free Piezoelectric Ceramics

Electrocaloric (EC) refrigeration, an EC effect based technology has been accepted as an auspicious way in the development of next generation refrigeration due to high efficiency and compact size. Here, we report the results of our experimental investigations on electrocaloric response and electrical energy storage properties in lead-free nanocrystalline (1 − x)K0.5Na0.5NbO3-xLiSbO3 (KNN-xLS) ceramics in the range of 0.015 ≤ x ≤ 0.06 by the indirect EC measurements. Doping of LiSbO3 has lowered both the transitions (T
 C
 and TO–T) of KNN to the room temperature side effectively. A maximal value of EC temperature change, ΔT = 3.33 K was obtained for the composition with x = 0.03 at 345 K under an external electric field of 40 kV/cm. The higher value of EC responsivity, ζ = 8.32 × 10−7 K.m/V is found with COP of 8.14 and recoverable energy storage of 0.128 J/cm3 with 46% efficiency for the composition of x = 0.03. Our investigations show that this material is a very promising candidate for electrocaloric refrigeration and energy storage near room temperature.

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Giant electrocaloric and energy storage performance of [(K0.5Na0.5)NbO3](1-x)-[LiSbO3] x nanocrystalline ceramics.

The comparison and analysis of piezoelectric properties for [001]-oriented PMN-0.30PT by different polarization conditions were investigated. It should be noticed that the average piezoelectric coefficients d33 of PMN-0.30PT crystals were 1860 pC/N by alternating current (AC) polarization and 1380 pC/N by direct current (DC) polarization, which indicates a promotion of 35.3%. The domain patterns in the [001] surface of PMN-0.30PT single crystals under different polarization conditions are obtained by piezo-response force microscopy. The enhancement of piezoelectric performance by AC polarization is attributed to the regular stripe domains with high domain wall density. With the temperature increased to TR-T, both the values of dielectric constant e r T and piezoelectric coefficients d33 under AC polarization condition maintain higher compared to traditional DC poled samples. In addition, both the values of e 33 and e 33 S under AC polarization retain higher than that of DC polarization, suggesting that the special domain structure with high domain wall density by AC polarization keeps a stable state as the temperature increased to TR-T. When the temperature increased from TR-T to TT-C, the piezoelectric properties of crystals ( e r T and d33) under different polarization conditions become the same status, which indicates that the domain structure under the different conditions of polarization may tend to the similar state and the extrinsic contribution from the domain wall motion by AC polarization is disappeared.

The performance enhancement and temperature dependence of piezoelectric properties for Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.30PbTiO3 single crystal by alternating current polarization

Enhancing piezoelectric properties of high-Curie temperature PMN-PH-PT piezoelectric ceramics by citrate method

The 1 wt % Li-doped (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Zr0.1Ti0.9)O3 (BCZT-Li) ceramics prepared by the citrate method exhibit improved phase purity, densification and electrical properties, which provide prospective possibility to develop high-performance electrocaloric materials. The electrocaloric effect was evaluated by phenomenological method, and the BCZT-Li ceramics present large electrocaloric temperature change ∆T, especially large electrocaloric responsibility ξ = ∆Tmax/∆Emax, which can be comparable to the largest values reported in the lead-free piezoelectric ceramics. The excellent electrocaloric effect is considered as correlating with the coexistence of polymorphic ferroelectric phases, which are detected by the Raman spectroscopy. The large ξ value accompanied by decreased Curie temperature (around 73 °C) of the BCZT-Li ceramics prepared by the citrate method presents potential applications as the next-generation solid-state cooling devices.

Large Electrocaloric Effect in Lead-Free (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Zr0.1Ti0.9)O3 Ceramics Prepared via Citrate Route

Ferroelectric phase transition and electrical conduction mechanisms in high Curie-temperature PMN-PHT piezoelectric ceramics

Pseudo-ternary high-Curie temperature 0.15Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 -0.4PbHfO 3 -0.45PbTiO 3 (PMN-PHT) piezoelectric ceramics were prepared by the conventional ceramic processing via the columbite precursor method. The influences of sintering temperature and sintering time on structure and electrical properties of the PMN-PHT ceramics were investigated in order to tailor their performance further. The sintered PMN-PHT ceramics exhibit pure perovskite structure with composition locating at the rhombohedral side around the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) of the PMN-PHT system. The PMN-PHT ceramics sintered at 1260 °C for 2 h exhibit the best dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties. The high piezoelectric response of the PMN-PHT ceramics is considered as relating to the MPB effect and their dense microstructure obtained via tailoring sintering conditions. The sintered PMN-PHT ceramics exhibit good thermal stability of piezoelectricity and ferroelectricity within the common usage temperatures, indicating that such ceramics are promising candidates for piezoelectric devices at elevated temperatures.

Rongfeng Zhu

Papers

The performance enhancement and temperature dependence of piezoelectric properties for Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.30PbTiO3 single crystal by alternating current polarization

Enhancing piezoelectric properties of high-Curie temperature PMN-PH-PT piezoelectric ceramics by citrate method

Large Electrocaloric Effect in Lead-Free (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Zr0.1Ti0.9)O3 Ceramics Prepared via Citrate Route

Ferroelectric phase transition and electrical conduction mechanisms in high Curie-temperature PMN-PHT piezoelectric ceramics

Optimizing structure and electrical properties of high-Curie temperature PMN-PHT piezoelectric ceramics via tailoring sintering process