Pyroelectric and electrocaloric effect of 〈1 1 1〉-oriented 0.9PMN–0.1PT single crystal

In this paper, the polarization vs. electric field hysteresis loops of 〈1 1 1〉-oriented 0.9PbMg1/3Nb2/3O3–0.1PbTiO3 (0.9PMN–0.1PT) single crystal at different temperatures (20–110 °C) were measured. The adiabatic temperature change ΔT of 〈1 1 1〉-oriented 0.9PMN–0.1PT single crystal due to the application or withdraw of electric field were calculated through the thermodynamic relation. The largest temperature change ΔT achieves ∼1 K with only a change of 40 kV/cm electric field, the mechanism of the electrocaloric effect (ECE) is discussed for 0.9PMN–0.1PT crystal. The pyroelectric coefficient of 0.9PMN–0.1PT under bias field was calculated according to the data of hysteresis loop. The result shows that 0.9PMN–0.1PT have large pyroelectric coefficient under bias field, the largest (∂P/∂T)E value achieves −0.5 μC/cm2 K.

► Here, we use indirect method to measure pyroelectric and electrocaloric effect.
► The largest temperature change achieves ∼1 °C with a small field change.
► The mechanism of electrocaloric effect of PMN–PT is explained.
► The largest (∂P/∂T)E value achieves −0.5 μC/cm2 K.
► PMN–PT has excellent pyroelectric effect.