Temperature–electric field hysteresis loop of electrocaloric effect in ferroelectricity—Direct measurement and analysis of electrocaloric effect. I

The polarization of polar domain in ferroelectric materials is orientated and reversed with the alternating electric field, and the hysteresis loops of polarization-electric field (P-E) and strain-electric field (S-E) are observed. For electrocaloric (EC) effect, the temperature change with the application and removal of electric field is also attributed to the change of polarization with the applied field. In most reports about EC, the temperature change is shown as an abrupt jump or slump due to the applied electric field that is a pulsed wave. Obviously, it is impossible to observe the hysteresis loop of EC. In our research, both sine wave and pulsed wave electric field are applied to samples in direct measurement, and temperature-electric field hysteresis loop (T-E) is observed only in measurement of sine wave. The T-E hysteresis loop displays a shape of butterfly, just like the shape of S-E. The electric field dependence of EC is also given. The obtained results will be helpful for us to know the electrocaloric effect further.