An All-Scale Hierarchical Architecture Induces Colossal Room-Temperature Electrocaloric Effect at Ultralow Electric Field in Polymer Nanocomposites

Composed of electrocaloric (EC) ceramics and polymers, polymer composites with high EC performances are considered as promising candidates for next-generation all-solid-state cooling devices. Their mass application is limited by the low EC strength, which requires very high operational voltage to induce appreciable temperature change. Here, an all-scale hierarchical architecture is proposed and demonstrated to achieve high EC strength in poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorofluoroethylene)-based nanocomposites. On the atomic scale, highly polarizable hierarchical interfaces are induced by incorporating BiFeO3 (BFO) nanoparticles in Ba(Zr0.21Ti0.79)O3 (BZT) nanofibers (BFO@BZTnfs); on the microscopic scale, percolation of the interfaces further raises the polarization of the composite nanofibers; on the mesoscopic scale, orthotropic orientation of BFO@BZTnfs leads to much enhanced breakdown strength of the nanocomposites. As a result, an ultrahigh EC strength of ≈0.22 K m MV−1 is obtained at an ultralow electric field of 75 MV m−1 in nanocomposites filled with the orthotropic composite nanofibers, which is by far the highest value achieved in polymer nanocomposites at a moderate electric field. Results of high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy, in situ scanning Kelvin probe microscopy characterization, and phase-field simulations all indicate that the much enhanced EC performances can be attributed to the all-scale hierarchical structures of the nanocomposite.

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Work Title An All-Scale Hierarchical Architecture Induces Colossal Room-Temperature Electrocaloric Effect at Ultralow Electric Field in Polymer Nanocomposites
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Open Access
Creators
  1. Yuqi Chen
  2. Jianfeng Qian
  3. Jinyao Yu
  4. Mengfan Guo
  5. Qinghua Zhang
  6. Jianyong Jiang
  7. Zhonghui Shen
  8. Long-Qing Chen
  9. Yang Shen
Keyword
  1. Compound configuration
  2. Electrocaloric effect
  3. Interfacial polarization
  4. Polymer nanocomposites
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Advanced Materials
Publication Date 2020
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201907927
Deposited August 10, 2022

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Version 1
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  • Created

    August 10, 2022 14:22 by sle34

  • Updated

    August 10, 2022 14:22 by [unknown user]

  • Added Creator Sandra Elder

    August 10, 2022 14:22 by sle34

  • Added An All-Scale Hierarchical Architecture Induces Colossal Room-Temperature Electrocaloric Effect at Ultralow Electric Field in Polymer Nanocomposites.pdf

    August 10, 2022 14:24 by sle34

  • Updated License Show Changes

    August 10, 2022 14:24 by sle34

    License
    • https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/
  • Published

    August 10, 2022 14:24 by sle34

  • Updated Keyword, Publisher, Publisher Identifier (DOI), and 1 more Show Changes

    September 12, 2023 12:53 by avs5190

    Keyword
    • Compound configuration, Electrocaloric effect, Interfacial polarization, Polymer nanocomposites
    Publisher
    • Advanced Materials
    Publisher Identifier (DOI)
    • https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201907927
    Publication Date
    • 2020-07
    • 2020
  • Deleted Creator Sandra Elder

    September 12, 2023 12:55 by avs5190

  • Added Creator Yuqi Chen

    September 12, 2023 12:55 by avs5190

  • Added Creator Jianfeng Qian

    September 12, 2023 12:55 by avs5190

  • Added Creator Jinyao Yu

    September 12, 2023 12:55 by avs5190

  • Added Creator Mengfan Guo

    September 12, 2023 12:55 by avs5190

  • Added Creator Qinghua Zhang

    September 12, 2023 12:55 by avs5190

  • Added Creator Jianyong Jiang

    September 12, 2023 12:55 by avs5190

  • Added Creator Zhonghui Shen

    September 12, 2023 12:55 by avs5190

  • Added Creator Long-Qing Chen

    September 12, 2023 12:55 by avs5190

  • Added Creator Yang Shen

    September 12, 2023 12:55 by avs5190

  • Updated Description Show Changes

    September 12, 2023 12:56 by avs5190

    Description
    • Composed of electrocaloric (EC) ceramics and polymers, polymer composites with high EC performances are considered as promising candidates for next-generation all-solid-state cooling devices. Their mass application is limited by the low EC strength, which requires very high operational voltage to induce appreciable temperature change. Here, an all-scale hierarchical architecture is proposed and demonstrated to achieve high EC strength in poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorofluoroethylene)-based nanocomposites. On the atomic scale, highly polarizable hierarchical interfaces are induced by incorporating BiFeO3(BFO) nanoparticles in Ba(Zr0.21Ti0.79)O-3(BZT) nanofibers (BFO@BZT_nfs); on the microscopic scale, percolation of the interfaces further raises the polarization of the composite nanofibers; on the mesoscopic scale, orthotropic orientation of BFO@BZT_nfs leads to much enhanced breakdown strength of the nanocomposites. As a result, an ultrahigh EC strength of approximate to 0.22 K m MV(-1)is obtained at an ultralow electric field of 75 MV m(-1)in nanocomposites filled with the orthotropic composite nanofibers, which is by far the highest value achieved in polymer nanocomposites at a moderate electric field. Results of high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy, in situ scanning Kelvin probe microscopy characterization, and phase-field simulations all indicate that the much enhanced EC performances can be attributed to the all-scale hierarchical structures of the nanocomposite.
    • Composed of electrocaloric (EC) ceramics and polymers, polymer composites with high EC performances are considered as promising candidates for next-generation all-solid-state cooling devices. Their mass application is limited by the low EC strength, which requires very high operational voltage to induce appreciable temperature change. Here, an all-scale hierarchical architecture is proposed and demonstrated to achieve high EC strength in poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorofluoroethylene)-based nanocomposites. On the atomic scale, highly polarizable hierarchical interfaces are induced by incorporating BiFeO3 (BFO) nanoparticles in Ba(Zr0.21Ti0.79)O3 (BZT) nanofibers (BFO@BZT_nfs); on the microscopic scale, percolation of the interfaces further raises the polarization of the composite nanofibers; on the mesoscopic scale, orthotropic orientation of BFO@BZT_nfs leads to much enhanced breakdown strength of the nanocomposites. As a result, an ultrahigh EC strength of ≈0.22 K m MV−1 is obtained at an ultralow electric field of 75 MV m−1 in nanocomposites filled with the orthotropic composite nanofibers, which is by far the highest value achieved in polymer nanocomposites at a moderate electric field. Results of high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy, in situ scanning Kelvin probe microscopy characterization, and phase-field simulations all indicate that the much enhanced EC performances can be attributed to the all-scale hierarchical structures of the nanocomposite.