Direct and indirect electrocaloric measurements using multilayer capacitors

Abstract

We report the discovery of serendipitous electrocaloric effects in commercial multilayer capacitors based on ferroelectric BaTiO3. Direct thermometry records ~0.5 K changes due to 300 kV cm-1, over a wide range of temperatures near and above room temperature. Similar results are obtained indirectly, via thermodynamic analysis of ferroelectric hysteresis loops. We compare and contrast these two results. Optimised electrocaloric multilayer capacitors could find applications in future cooling technologies.