Abstract

Direct and indirect studies of the electrocaloric effect were carried out in poled and depoled Na₀_.₅Bi₀_.₅TiO₃. For this purpose, polarization and electrocaloric effect temperature change measurements were made at different electric field pulses as a function of temperature. The applicability of the widely used indirect electrocaloric effect determination method, using the Maxwell relation, was critically analyzed with respect to the reliable direct measurements. Quantitative differences were observed between the results obtained by both approaches in the case of the poled Na₀_.₅Bi₀_.₅TiO₃ sample. These differences can be explained by the temperature-dependent concentration of domains oriented in the direction of the applied electric field. Whereas in depoled Na₀_.₅Bi₀_.₅TiO₃, which is characterized by the electric field dependence of polar nanoregions embedded in a nonpolar matrix, the Maxwell relation is not applicable at all, as it is indicated by the obtained results. Possible mechanisms which could be responsible for the electrocaloric effect in the relaxor state were considered. The results of this study are used to evaluate the numerous results obtained and published by other authors, using the Maxwell relation to indirectly determine the electrocaloric effect. The reason for the negative values of the electrocaloric effect, obtained in such a way and widely discussed in the literature in the case of Na₀_.₅Bi₀_.₅TiO₃, has been explained in this study.