Ferroelectric polymer nanocomposites for room-temperature electrocaloric refrigeration

Abstract

Solution-processable ferroelectric polymer nanocomposites are developed as a new form of electrocaloric materials that can be effectively operated under both modest and high electric fields at ambient temperature. By integrating the complementary properties of the constituents, the nanocomposites exhibit state-of-the-art cooling energy densities. Greatly improved thermal conductivity also yields superior cooling power densities validated by finite volume simulations.

Keywords: electrocaloric effect; ferroelectrics; polymer nanocomposites; solid-state cooling.