Coexistence of multiple positive and negative electrocaloric responses in (Pb, La)(Zr, Sn, Ti)O3 single crystal

The electrocaloric effect has been investigated in antiferroelectric (Pb, La)(Zr, Sn, Ti)O3 (PLZST) single crystals grown by the flux method. The measurements of polarization versus electric field loops on unpoled crystals revealed that at room temperature, a critical electric field of 1.8 kV/mm is needed to induce a ferroelectric phase from an antiferroelectric phase. The dielectric properties demonstrated that the induced ferroelectric phase recovers to antiferroelectric phase when temperature is above the depolarization temperature (70 °C–100 °C). Coexistence of the negative and positive electrocaloric effect has been achieved in ⟨001⟩-oriented PLZST single crystals. Multiple electrocaloric response values of −0.054 °C at room temperature, 0.17 °C near the depolarization temperature, −0.14 °C at 125 °C, and 0.75 °C around Curie temperature have been observed under an electric field of 3 kV/mm. The coexistence of multiple negative and positive electrocaloric effects in one material provides a possibility to design solid-state refrigerator technologies to enhance the electrocaloric efficiency.