Ferroelectric Smectic Liquid Crystals as Electrocaloric Materials

The 1980s saw the development of ferroelectric chiral smectic C (SmC*) liquid crystals (FLCs) with a clear focus on their application in fast electro-optic devices. However, as only known fluid materials, they also have potential other applications, one which is heat-exchange devices based electrocaloric effect. In particular, can be both material and heat exchanging an device, significantly simplifying some design constraints associated solid dielectrics. this paper, we consider three SmC* crystal systems, two are pure materials that exhibit ferroelectric, antiferroelectric, intermediate phases was developed room-temperature for applications. We report field-induced temperature changes these selected measured indirectly using Maxwell method. maximum induced change determined, 0.37 K, currently record-breaking FLC sufficiently large to make interesting candidates Using normalised function electric field strength, merit, performances FLCs compared ceramics polymers.