Enhanced electrocaloric effect and energy-storage performance in PBLZT films with various Ba2+ content

(100)-oriented Pb(0.90-x)BaxLa0.10Zr0.90Ti0.10O3 (x=0, 0.02, 0.05 and 0.11) antiferroelectric thick films were deposited on LaNiO3/Si (100) substrates by the sol-gel process. The influences of Ba2+ content on the dielectric properties, electrocaloric effect (ECE), energy-storage performance and leakage current were systematically investigated. With Ba2+ content increasing, the temperature (T-m) corresponding to the maximum dielectric constant of the thick films was decreased, while their diffuseness was increased. The maximum ECE Delta T=18.1 degrees C was obtained in the thick film with x=0.05 at room temperature under Delta E=700 kV/cm. The maximum energy storage density of 42.3 J/cm(3) and the corresponding efficiency of 68% was achieved in the film with x=0.11, companied by a power density of 0.53 MW/cm(3), due to its high breakdown strength. In addition, a small leakage current density (< 10(-5) A/cm(2)) were attained in these films at room temperature. In conclusion, we believe that this kind of antiferroelctric thick film is a potential candidate for applications in solid cooling devices and the energy-storage systems. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.