Room temperature electro-caloric effect in lead-free Ba(Zr0.1Ti0.9)1−xSnxO3 (x=0, x=0.075) ceramics

• BZT doped Sn ceramics.
• Ferroelectric materials.
• RT electrocaloric effect.
• Microelectronic device refrigeration applications.

Electrocaloric effect of lead-free Ba(Zr0.1Ti0.9)1−xSnxO3 (x=0 and x=0.075) ceramics is investigated. In the composition x=0, the electrocaloric strength (ξ) was about 0.23 K mm/kV at Curie temperature. The incorporation of a small amount of tin (Sn) ions in the matrix of Ba(Zr0.1Ti0.9)O3 was found to decrease the Curie temperature TC toward room temperature while the value of the electrocaloric strength remained practically unchanged (ξ=0.22 K mm/kV).