Direct Visualization of Anti?Ferroelectric Switching Dynamics via Electrocaloric Imaging

The large electrocaloric coupling in PbZrO3 allows using high-speed infrared imaging for visualizing anti-ferroelectric switching dynamics via the associated temperature change. It is found that ceramic samples of homogeneous and thickness, fast due to generation multiple nucleation sites, with devices responding millisecond range. By introducing gradients however, it possible change propagation limited, whereby a single-phase boundary sweeps across sample like cold front, at speed ?20 cm s?1. Additionally, thermostatic differences between two sides enables simultaneous negative effect on one side positive other, yielding Janus-like response.