Article in Journal of the European Ceramic Society

Nikola Novak and George Cordoyiannis (F5), in collaboration with Xiaoli Tan (Iowa State University, USA), have published an article entitled “Non-equilibrium dipolar entropy pathways enable double electrocaloric cooling in antiferroelectric PNZST ceramics” in Journal of the European Ceramic Society. This study demonstrates a double electrocaloric cooling effect in antiferroelectric PNZST ceramics, driven by non-equilibrium dipolar entropy changes and slow polarization dynamics. The effect occurs in the supercritical regime of the electric field–temperature phase diagram, enabling cooling during both the application and removal of an electric field within the same cycle – a previously unobserved behavior.  This finding introduces a new strategy for electrocaloric cycle design and offers potential for enhanced-efficiency solid-state refrigeration.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2026.118967