Large pyroelectricity via engineered ferroelectric‐relaxor phase boundary

Abstract

With growing demand for high‐sensitivity infrared detectors in industrial temperature monitoring and medical systems, high‐performance pyroelectric materials are vitally required. In this work, large pyroelectric performance is achieved in (1 − x)Pb0.99Nb0.02[(Zr0.57Sn0.43)0.937Ti0.063]0.98O3–xBaTiO3 (1 − x)PNZST–xBT ceramics by tuning the ferroelectric (FE)‐relaxor phase boundary near room temperature. The FE‐ and ergodic‐relaxor phase boundaries are engineered by breaking the long‐range antiferroelectric order with the introduction of BaTiO3. It is found that the ceramics with x = 0.15 exhibit a large pyroelectric coefficient of 11.3 × 10–4 C m–2 K–1 and figures of merit of Fi = 20.1 × 10–10 m V–1, Fv = 3.44 × 10–2 m2 C–1, and Fd = 3.87 × 10–5 Pa–1/2 around room temperature due to engineered phase boundary. Our results provide the potential technological application for ultrasensitive infrared detector and scientific insights into pyroelectric ceramic design.

High pyroelectric response in Pb0.99Nb0.02[(Zr0.57Sn0.43)1−xTix]0.98O3 ceramics

“…Pyroelectric properties of the PNZST and other ferroelectric ceramics, crystal, or film materials at RT as a comparison are listed in Table 1. It can be noticed that the pyroelectric coefficient p = 6.83 × 10 −4 C m −2 K −1 and the figures of merit F i = 5.04 × 10 −10 m V −1 , F v = 7.61 × 10 −2 m 2 C −1 , and F d = 3.46 × 10 −5 Pa −1/2 at RT and the highest pyroelectric coefficient of 695.5 × 10 −4 C m −2 K −1 and F i = 1410.46 × 10 −10 m V −1 , F v = 1587.39 × 10 −2 m 2 C −1 , and F d = 1182.94 × 10 −5 Pa −1/2 near human body temperature are achieved for x = 0.070 ceramics, which are much greater than several other reported materials 2,8,10,25–34 . Therefore, the excellent pyroelectric performance of x = 0.070 ceramics is powerfully in favor of their applicability for fabrication of pyroelectric devices.…”

“…The x = 0.075 ceramics show the highest spontaneous polarization 34.9 μC cm −2 and p = 6. near human body temperature are achieved for x = 0.070 ceramics, which are much greater than several other reported materials. 2,8,10,[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34] Therefore, the excellent pyroelectric performance of x = 0.070 ceramics is powerfully in favor of their applicability for fabrication of pyroelectric devices.…”

Phase transition enhanced pyroelectric nanogenerators for self-powered temperature sensors

“…BTO has been selected as an environmentally friendly and lead-free ferroelectric material with excellent pyroelectric performance, where the ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition temperature (Curie temperature, Tc) is ~ 130 o C. [34] In previous work, the temperature dependence of pyroelectric coefficient of BTO based materials was obtained by P-E loops or thermally stimulated depolarization current. [30,[35][36][37] The pyroelectric output current and power at a wide temperature range were measured for the first time in this work. The BTO ceramics were obtained by two-step sintering method [38] and to assess the pyroelectric properties, the ambient temperature during the measurement process was controlled by a sealed thermostat and the pyroelectric current as a result of a temperature change was measured from room temperature (below Tc) to 140 o C (above Tc).…”

Enhanced electromechanical properties in MnCO3‐modified Pb(Ni,Nb)O3–PbZrO3–PbTiO3 ceramics via defect and domain engineering

“…PbZr 1−x Ti x O 3 -based piezoelectric ceramics have been extensively used in various electronic devices, such as sensors, multilayer actuators, and transducers, due to the inherent coupling between the electrical and mechanical signals. [1][2][3] However, only high piezoelectricity is far from enough in actual applications. In the environment of high electric field, high-power piezoelectric devices gener-ate strong vibration within the ultrasonic frequency range, which generate heat due to the inevitable mechanical loss and dielectric loss.…”

“…PbZr 1− x Ti x O 3 ‐based piezoelectric ceramics have been extensively used in various electronic devices, such as sensors, multilayer actuators, and transducers, due to the inherent coupling between the electrical and mechanical signals 1–3 . However, only high piezoelectricity is far from enough in actual applications.…”