Article
Energy & Fuels
Junning Li, Alvar Torello, Youri Nouchokgwe, Torsten Granzow, Veronika Kovacova, Sakyo Hirose, Emmanuel Defay
Summary: Electrocaloric (EC) materials offer a promising alternative to traditional caloric heat pumps, as they can achieve significant temperature changes under the application of electric fields. Researchers have found EC effect in lead-free BaTiO3 multilayer capacitors, which exhibit strong first-order phase transition and improved electrical resistivity by adding a dopant. These findings suggest the potential for designing lead-free caloric cooling prototypes using optimized BaTiO3 capacitors.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Youri Nouchokgwe, Pierre Lheritier, Tomoyasu Usui, Alvar Torello, Asmaa El Moul, Veronika Kovacova, Torsten Granzow, Sakyo Hirose, Emmanuel Defay
Summary: This study reports on the material efficiency of lead scandium tantalate multilayer capacitors and compares them with other related materials, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages.
SCRIPTA MATERIALIA
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Olivia E. Baxter, Amit Kumar, J. Marty Gregg, Raymond G. P. Mcquaid
Summary: Researchers have successfully used scanning thermal microscopy to spatially image temperature changes in electrocaloric materials, enabling investigations at sub-micron length scales.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Stefan Moench, Kilian Bartholome
Summary: In an all-solid-state electrocaloric arrangement, a significant increase in temperature change is achieved by using distributed thermal capacitances and resistances and spatio-temporal distributed electric field control. Simulations show temperature changes four times the electrocaloric adiabatic temperature change, while experimental results confirm a surface temperature change of 223% compared to the adiabatic electrocaloric temperature change. This approach allows for a simplified and improved performance of electrocaloric heat pumps and other electrocaloric applications.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Sakyo Hirose, Tomoyasu Usui, Takanobu Hiroto, Bhasi Nair, Xavier Moya, Neil D. Mathur
Summary: This study describes multilayer capacitors (MLCs) of PbMg0.5W0.5O3 (PMW) that can drive the partial antiferroelectric-ferroelectric (AF-FE) transition below the neutral temperature and the partial ferroelectric-ferroelectric (PE-FE) transition near room temperature. The PMW material exhibits good electrocaloric performance near room temperature, indicating its potential use in prototype electrocaloric coolers.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-ENERGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemical Research Methods
Xiaowei Zhuang
Summary: The recent development of genome-scale imaging allows for single-cell omics analysis in intact cells and tissues, enabling gene expression profiling, identification of cell types, and spatial mapping in complex tissues. The high spatial resolution of these approaches also allows for determining the spatial organizations of the genome and transcriptome inside cells, which are key regulatory mechanisms for gene expression.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Mario Marini, Margaux Bouzin, Laura Sironi, Laura D'Alfonso, Roberto Colombo, Daniela Di Martino, Giuseppe Gorini, Maddalena Collini, Giuseppe Chirico
Summary: Thermal conductivity measurements are crucial in the applied physical sciences, requiring new non-invasive methods for high-resolution spatial mapping. A novel method for quantitative thermal conductivity mapping at around 10 μm resolution was proposed and experimentally demonstrated in this work.
MATERIALS TODAY PHYSICS
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Todd H. Lewis, Bo Zhang
Summary: Closed-bipolar electrochemical imaging (c-BPI) solves the tradeoff problem between optical response, spatial resolution, and photon efficiency in electrochemical heterogeneity imaging by coupling optical and electrochemical signals. Considering the potential for sensing ultra-transient events, we focus on fluorescence as a useful tool in c-BPI and examine the advantages and challenges of electrofluorogenic reporting strategies, providing solutions through direct and indirect approaches for electrochemical fluorescence imaging in closed-bipolar sensing systems.
CURRENT OPINION IN ELECTROCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Li-Qian Cheng, Yongke Yan, Xiaotian Li, Xiangming Xiong, Xin Chen, Li-Feng Zhu, Wenjie Li, Kai Chen, Mohan Sanghadasa, Shashank Priya
Summary: The study reveals that the electrical properties of MLCCs are closely related to their geometric structure, affecting both heat flow and internal stress, resulting in variations in EC performance and reliability.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yongke Yan, Liwei D. Geng, Li-Qian Cheng, Xiaotian Li, Haoyang Leng, Ke Wang, Bed Poudel, Amin Nozariasbmarz, Mohan Sanghadasa, Susan Trolier-McKinstry, Qi-Ming Zhang, Yu U. Wang, Shashank Priya
Summary: The physical properties of complex perovskite ferroelectrics depend on the degree of order/disorder and the scale of the ordered domains. In this study, the electrocaloric properties of three representative complex perovskite ferroelectrics were evaluated. The high EC performance of Pb(Sc1/2Ta1/2)O-3 (PST) was found to be related to the ordering of B-site cations (Sc3+ and Ta5+) and a long coherence length.
Article
Physics, Applied
A. P. Moina
Summary: Using a previously developed model, the study explores the electrocaloric effect (ECE) in antiferroelectric crystals of squaric acid, which undergoes a two-stage process with an intermediate ferrielectric phase during low-temperature polarization reorientation induced by an external electric field. The T-E landscape of the model entropy is analyzed. The ECE is found to be negative in the antiferroelectric phase, positive at low fields in the ferrielectric phase, and positive at all temperatures and fields in the ferroelectric phase. A negative EC temperature shift ΔT of approximately -2.7 K at 200 kV/cm is predicted. The supercritical behavior of the Gruneisen parameter in the crossover region between two bicritical end points is also studied.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Junlin Yang, Ye Zhao, Lipeng Zhu, Xihong Hao
Summary: A relaxor system, KNLNT-0.1CZ, was designed to achieve a high electrocaloric effect in multilayer ceramic capacitors. The study successfully demonstrated a large ΔT and wide T-span, indicating a promising strategy for designing new ECE materials for solid-state cooling.
SCRIPTA MATERIALIA
(2021)
Article
Optics
A. Aouali, S. Chevalier, A. Sommier, M. Ayadi, J. -C. Batsale, D. Balageas, C. Pradere
Summary: A new ultra-broadband contactless imaging power meter based on electromagnetic to infrared technology has been developed, allowing for the simultaneous identification of heat losses and spatial/temporal source distribution. The method enables reconstruction of spatial and amplitude distributions of sources across a wide spectral range.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Kathryn E. Anderssen, Mathias Kranz, Shaheen Syed, Svein Kristian Stormo
Summary: This study investigates the use of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a quantitative method to describe the structure of muscle tissue in meat and seafood. The results show that DTI can effectively distinguish between different sample qualities and detect changes caused by freezing and thawing damage.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wenqi Li, Paul Dryburgh, Don Pieris, Rikesh Patel, Matt Clark, Richard J. Smith
Summary: This paper presents a method for measuring the microstructure of industrially relevant surface finishes. Spatially resolved acoustic spectroscopy is used to measure the microstructure, and the influence of surface roughness on the measurements is discussed. It is demonstrated that a wide range of surface finishes can be measured, but the correlation length of the roughness has a significant impact on the ability to detect surface waves.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Wael Ben Taazayet, Ikbel Mallek Zouari, Nabil Hosni, Brahim Dkhil, Najeh Thabet Mliki
Summary: By tailoring a hydrothermal synthesis route, pure BiFeO3 and pure Bi2Fe4O9 single phases were successfully synthesized with different morphologies and sizes. The photocatalytic efficiency of Bi2Fe4O9 was significantly better than BiFeO3 under sunlight irradiation, attributed to its stronger absorption especially for higher energy light.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN ELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mads C. Weber, Mael Guennou, Donald M. Evans, Constance Toulouse, Arkadiy Simonov, Yevheniia Kholina, Xiaoxuan Ma, Wei Ren, Shixun Cao, Michael A. Carpenter, Brahim Dkhil, Manfred Fiebig, Jens Kreisel
Summary: This article explores the phenomenon of spin-phonon coupling in SmFeO3. The study finds that a strong spin-phonon coupling effect occurs when both iron and samarium magnetic orders are present. This coupling is induced by the magnetism of iron rather than occurring spontaneously. The findings provide a new approach for discovering unknown properties.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wafa Amdouni, Mojca Otonicar, Pascale Gemeiner, Vincent Butin, Nicolas Guiblin, Hager Maghraoui-Meherzi, Brahim Dkhil
Summary: The current methods for synthesizing perovskite oxide (ABO(3)) nanoparticles (NPs) have limitations such as high reagent costs and sophisticated equipment, long time and high-temperature processing, or multiple post-processing and thermal treatment steps. In this study, a facile low temperature chemical bath synthesis and one annealing step are used to produce high quality rare-earth-based REMO3 NPs. The versatility of this approach is demonstrated by synthesizing La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 solid solution and non-RE-based BiFeO3 perovskite. The as-prepared REFeO3 and REMnO3 NPs show high efficiency in the photocatalytic degradation of norfloxacin antibiotic, indicating their potential for practical applications.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Naveen Aruchamy, Stephanie Girod, Sebastjan Glinsek, Emmanuel Defay, Torsten Granzow
Summary: This study compares the fatigue behavior of fully transparent lead zirconate titanate films on fused silica glass or sapphire, respectively, with coplanar interdigitated top electrodes and no bottom electrodes, to that of the same systems in a traditional metal-insulator-metal parallel plate capacitor geometry. The polarization hysteresis decreases rapidly in the latter geometry during bipolar electrical cycling, while systems with coplanar electrodes show no notable fatigue up to 107 cycles. This difference is explained by the columnar microstructure of the films, where the grain boundaries act as trapping sites for oxygen vacancies in coplanar electrode geometries, preventing the formation of agglomerates that cause fatigue through domain wall pinning.
JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN CERAMIC SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Oana Condurache, Goran Drazic, Tadej Rojac, Hana Ursic, Brahim Dkhil, Andraz Bradesko, Dragan Damjanovic, Andreja Benc
Summary: The atomic-level response of zigzag ferroelectric domain walls was investigated using in situ bias scanning transmission electron microscopy. The position of the domain wall did not follow the strain field when the electric field was applied, which can be explained by low mobility defect segregation at the initial position of the domain wall. The triangular apex of the zigzag wall was pinned but changed its shape and became asymmetric under electrical stimuli.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ashwath Aravindhan, Pierre Lheritier, Alvar Torello, Uros Prah, Youri Nouchokgwe, Asmaa El Moul, Xavier Chevalier, Fabrice Domingues Dos Santos, Emmanuel Defay, Veronika Kovacova
Summary: In this study, the electrocaloric effect of P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) film was directly analyzed using infrared imaging. The results showed that P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) exhibited a temperature-independent electrocaloric effect at room temperature. A maximum adiabatic temperature change of 3.58 K was measured during the cooling cycle at a field of 100 V/μm at 30°C. Despite the thermal mass of the substrate, a significant electrocaloric effect was observed in P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) films. This terpolymer composition could be of interest for electrocaloric cooling applications.
JOURNAL OF MATERIOMICS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Applied
N. Zeggai, B. Dkhil, M. LoBue, M. Almanza
Summary: A figure of merit is defined to assess the cooling efficiency of electrocaloric materials by considering both caloric properties and losses. A measurement setup based on flexible thermistances is used to directly measure the caloric effect and losses of P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) electrocaloric polymer films. The data, along with the figure of merit, are used to extrapolate the expected cooling efficiency of the studied EC material under actual working conditions. Dielectric losses are found to be a major limiting factor, and reducing material losses is identified as a key objective for optimizing EC refrigerants for cooling applications. Strategies towards loss reduction are outlined.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Uros Prah, Matej Sadl, Alvar Torello, Pierre Lheritier, Veronika Kovacova, Hana Ursic, Emmanuel Defay
Summary: Reliable and accurate characterization of the electrocaloric effect is necessary to understand material properties. A new approach using infrared imaging is proposed to capture the adiabatic electrocaloric effect in ceramic films. The results obtained with this method are validated and compared with other direct and indirect approaches.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Junning Li, Alvar Torello, Youri Nouchokgwe, Torsten Granzow, Veronika Kovacova, Sakyo Hirose, Emmanuel Defay
Summary: Electrocaloric (EC) materials offer a promising alternative to traditional caloric heat pumps, as they can achieve significant temperature changes under the application of electric fields. Researchers have found EC effect in lead-free BaTiO3 multilayer capacitors, which exhibit strong first-order phase transition and improved electrical resistivity by adding a dopant. These findings suggest the potential for designing lead-free caloric cooling prototypes using optimized BaTiO3 capacitors.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Sabrina Unmuessig, David Bach, Youri Nouchokgwe, Emmanuel Defay, Kilian Bartholome
Summary: Caloric cooling systems based on electrocaloric effect offer higher efficiency compared to vapor compression systems. Lead scandium tantalate (PST) materials, which undergo a first-order phase transition, are promising candidates for electrocaloric cooling. In this study, a phenomenological model based on an analytical equation for specific heat capacity is used to describe the behavior of bulk PST material, and its accuracy is validated with experimental data. This model allows for the calculation of essential material properties such as the adiabatic temperature change and isothermal entropy change.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Minghai Yao, Arij Marzouki, Shenglan Hao, Samir Salmanov, Mojca Otonicar, Vincent Loyau, Brahim Dkhil
Summary: Magnetoelectric multiferroics have attracted much attention due to their potential applications in novel multifunctional devices. Compared to single-phase multiferroics, magnetoelectric composites have competitive advantages, and their coupling is influenced by composition and grain size. In this study, BFO/PZT composites were prepared via solid-state sintering, and the equal molar ratio composition showed a better magnetoelectric coupling response. The composites with nano bismuth ferrite and both nano/micro grain sizes exhibited the highest magnetoelectric voltage coefficients (<< E = 16.9 mV cm-1 Oe-1). The strain-mediated mechanism was confirmed by comparing the strain response and polarization of nano/micro composites with a composition ratio of 3:7.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Matej Sadl, Uros Prah, Veronika Kovacova, Emmanuel Defay, Tadej Rojac, Andrej Lebar, Josko Valentincic, Hana Ursic
Summary: In this study, flexible thick-film structures with promising energy storage and electrocaloric cooling capabilities as well as piezoelectric properties are developed, addressing the challenge of sustainable energy management and energy self-sufficiency by managing multiple energy operations in a single device.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Kinnary Patel, Bin Xu, Sergey Prosandeev, Romain Faye, Brahim Dkhil, Pierre-Eymeric Janolin, Laurent Bellaiche
Summary: In this study, a novel atomistic effective Hamiltonian scheme is developed to investigate the temperature-dependent physical properties of the prototype antiferroelectric PbZrO3 (PZO) system. The scheme accurately reproduces the experimental features of the complex Pbam orthorhombic phase at low temperatures and the cubic paraelectric phase of Pm3 over bar m symmetry at high temperatures. Additionally, it predicts a novel intermediate state of Pbam symmetry, which exhibits a large dielectric response and thermal expansion consistent with experimental observations.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Matthieu Fricaudet, Katarina Ziberna, Samir Salmanov, Jens Kreisel, Delong He, Brahim Dkhil, Tadej Rojac, Mojca Otonicar, Pierre-Eymeric Janolin, Andraz Bradesko
Summary: Organic ferroelectrics, with their complementary properties to classical, inorganic ferroelectrics, are becoming increasingly important in various applications such as energy harvesting and storage due to their flexibility, chemical resistance, scalability, high breakdown fields, and biocompatibility. This study applies the well-established material's figures of merit to polyvinylidene-fluoride-based compositions of different ferroelectric behaviors to emphasize the key material parameters influencing the maximal power output of energy harvesting devices. Furthermore, the possibility of using the same functional material for energy storage in scalable multifunctional devices is discussed.
ACS APPLIED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Sergey Prosandeev, Sergei Prokhorenko, Yousra Nahas, Yali Yang, Changsong Xu, Julie Grollier, Diyar Talbayev, Brahim Dkhil, L. Bellaiche
Summary: In this study, an atomistic first-principles-based effective Hamiltonian is used to investigate the response of the perovskite sodium niobate system, a prototype of antiferroelectric materials, to terahertz electric pulses. Hidden phases are discovered as a result of ultrafast field excitation, which are homogeneous in nature and correspond to local energy minima. These phases not only exhibit improved piezoelectric responses, but also possess controllable electric polarization, suggesting potential applications for ultrafast neuromorphic computing.