Electrocaloric Cooling and Energy Storage Using Ferroelectric Polymer Nanocomposites

Effective heat dissipation is essential for reliable and long-lasting electronic devices, creating a need for advanced cooling solutions. Electrocaloric (EC) cooling offers advantages in energy efficiency, adaptability, and scalability. Researchers are investigating nanocomposites of ferroelectric polymers and inorganic ceramics to achieve both a strong electrocaloric effect and high energy storage. A deeper understanding of the polymer’s structural changes and the impact of the interface is crucial for optimizing their performance. In this study, we investigate the ECE performance in nanocomposites incorporating P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) with a small ratio of TiO 2 fillers. An enhanced EC response was observed in the nanocomposite with 0.3 vol % fillers, exhibiting a large temperature change (Δ T ) of 11.1 K under 100 MV/m. The enhancement ferroelectric and electrocaloric properties are attributed to the relative content of the β-phase conformation, which varied after introducing nanoparticles as indicated in both FT-IR and Raman spectrum analysis. However, overloading leads to agglomeration and reduced interfacial effects with a small interparticle distance, contributing to the diminished EC and ferroelectric response. Moreover, a high energy-storage density of 19.55 J/cm 3 under 500 MV/m was also obtained in the nanocomposite. Lastly, a temperature span of 10.9 K and a COP of 8.72 were observed by simulation. Therefore, a system study for ferroelectric polymer nanocomposites paves the way for developing electrocaloric refrigeration and energy storage technologies.