Electrocaloric properties of lead-free ferroelectric ceramic near room temperature

Nowadays, much attention is paid for developing lead-free ceramics, which can be utilized in the refrigeration domain. This communication provides a detailed description of the synthesis and characterization of a lead-free solid solution of BaTi0.91Sn0.09O3. The X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the compound exhibits a single phase of tetragonal symmetry (P4mm (99)). The average crystallite size estimated using Scherrer's technique was found to be 122 nm. The microstructure or surface morphology of the sintered sample was investigated by using scanning electron microscopy. Based on mapping image, the sensitivity and spatial resolution of the different elements in our sample were improved. Analytical and simulation data for the electrocaloric effect in our sample were reported. A good electrocaloric strength (xi = Delta T/Delta E) of xi = 0.171 K mm/kV near the ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition temperature was obtained. These values are very interesting when compared to those for other materials and show the possibility of using such lead-free ceramics for refrigeration domain.