Thermal hysteresis and electrocaloric effect in Ba1-xZrxTiO3

Samples of lead–free Ba(ZrxTi1-x)O3 bulk and thick film were fabricated using solid state reaction and tape – casting technique, respectively. A comprehensive investigation of dielectric, ferroelectric, and electrocaloric properties of these samples has been carried out. The results show that there is a dielectric relaxation behavior in the thick film Meantime, the "re–entrant relaxor behavior" and thermal hysteresis are observed in the bulk. Moreover, the electrocaloric effects are observed in the thick film and the bulk. The peak values of ΔTEC of the bulk and the thick film are 2.78 K and 0.37 K, respectively. This work is beneficial for realizing high efficiency and environmentally friendly cooling technology.