Electrocaloric effect and pyroelectric properties of organic-inorganic hybrid (C2H5NH3)2CuCl4

The organic-inorganic hybrid (C2H5NH3)(2)CuCl4 (EA(2)CuCl(4)) single crystals are prepared by the solvothermal condition method. The x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, dielectric permittivity, pyroelectric current, and heat capacity are used to systematically investigate the electrocaloric performances of EA(2)CuCl(4). The pyroelectric currents are measured under various voltages, and the electrocaloric effect (ECE) is calculated. Its ECE exhibits an isothermal entropy change of 0.0028 J/kg.K under an electric field of 30 kV/cm associated with a relatively broad temperature span. Further, the maximum pyroelectric coefficient (p) is 4x 10(-3) C/m(2).K and the coefficient beta for generating ECE from electric displacement D is 1.068x 10(8) J.cm.K-1.C-2 at 240 K. Our results indicate that the ECE behavior of organic-inorganic hybrid EA(2)CuCl(4) is in accordance with Jona and Shirane's opinion in which the ECE should occur both below and above the Curie temperature T-c.