Issue 30, 2025, Issue in Progress

Enhancement of electrocaloric response and elevated energy-storage characteristics in lead-free BCTZ-ZN ceramics

Abstract

Recently, considerable focus has been on exploring the electrocaloric effect in environmentally friendly, lead-free ferroelectric materials. In this study, lead-free (Ba0.95Ca0.05)(Ti0.95Zr0.05)1−x(Zn1/3Nb2/3)xO3 (BCTZ-xZN) ceramics were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the formation of a pure perovskite structure with a structural phase transition depending on ZN substitution. Dielectric measurements revealed a diffuse phase transition and a shift in Curie temperature with increasing x. The electrical energy storage density (Wrec) was found to be 150 mJ cm−3 with an efficiency of η = 83% for BCTZ-2.5ZN. At an electric field strength of 25 kV cm−1, a peak electrocaloric response of 0.68 K at 340 K was attained, with a corresponding electrocaloric responsivity of 0.27 K mm kV−1 observed at 340 K for BCTZ-2.5ZN. The electrocaloric effect, combined with a calculated coefficient of performance (COP) of 2, demonstrates the material's potential for both cooling and energy storage. These findings underscore BCTZ-xZN as a promising material for applications in cooling systems and energy storage for electronic devices, offering versatile properties conducive to cooling operations via an external electric field across various operating temperatures.

Graphical abstract: Enhancement of electrocaloric response and elevated energy-storage characteristics in lead-free BCTZ-ZN ceramics

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Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
21 Dec 2024
Accepted
28 Jun 2025
First published
14 Jul 2025
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

RSC Adv., 2025,15, 24639-24647

Enhancement of electrocaloric response and elevated energy-storage characteristics in lead-free BCTZ-ZN ceramics

H. Abdmouleh, I. Kriaa, N. Abdelmoula, Z. Sassi and H. Khemakhem, RSC Adv., 2025, 15, 24639 DOI: 10.1039/D4RA08946D

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