In the search of new electrocaloric materials: Fast ion conductors

AbstractWe analyse the effects of applying an electric field on the critical temperature at which superionicity appears in archetypal fast ion conductor CaF2, by means of molecular dynamics simulations. We find that the onset of superionicity can be reduced by about 100K when relatively small electric fields of ∼50KVcm−1 are applied. Under large enough electric fields, however, ionic conductivity is depleted. The normal to superionic phase transition is characterised by a large increase of entropy, thereby sizeable electrocaloric effects can be realised in fast ion conductors that are promising for solid-state cooling applications