Strain gradient induced thermal-electrical response in paraelectric N a0.5B i0.5Ti O3 -based ceramics
Abstract
The temperature dependence of spontaneous polarization in ferroelectrics generates a pyroelectric response, which can be exploited in sensor and thermal energy harvesting applications. To achieve the pyroelectric effect in ferroelectric ceramics, an electric field should be applied to the materials to align the spontaneous polarization. However, here we show that in paraelectric N a0.5B i0.5Ti O3 -based ceramics, a strong temperature-dependent electric current, which is similar to a pyroelectric response, can be observed under bending deformation. Our results reveal that the observed thermal current cannot be explained by the temperature dependence of the flexoelectric effect, but originates from the flexoelectric effect induced conduction. This work provides an approach to obtain a strong thermal-electrical response in originally nonpyroelectric materials.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Materials
- Pub Date:
- March 2018
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.2.034401
- Bibcode:
- 2018PhRvM...2c4401C