Unveiling a giant electrocaloric effect at low electric fields through continuous phase transition design

The reported electrocaloric(EC)effect in ferroelectrics is poised for application in the next generation of solidstate refrigeration technology,exhibiting substantial developmental potential.This study introduces a novel and efficient EC effect strategy in(1-x)Pb(Lu_(1/2)Nb_(1/2))O_(3)-xPbTiO_(3)(PLN-xPT)ceramics for low electric-fielddriven devices.Phase-field simulations provide fundamental insights into thermally induced continuous phase transitions,guiding subsequent experimental investigations.A comprehensive composition/temperature-driven phase evolution diagram is constructed,elucidating the sequential transformation from ferroelectric(FE)to antiferroelectric(AFE)and finally to paraelectric(PE)phases for x=0.10-0.18 components.Direct measurements of EC performance highlight x=0.16 as an outstanding performer,exhibiting remarkable properties,including an adiabatic temperature change(ΔT)of 3.03 K,EC strength(ΔT/ΔE)of 0.08 K cm kV-1,and a temperature span(Tspan)of 31℃.The superior EC effect performance is attributed to the temperature-induced FE to AFE transition at low electric fields and diffusion phase transition behavior contributing to the wide Tspan.This work provides valuable insights into developing high-performance EC effect across broad temperature ranges through the strategic design of continuous phase transitions,offering a simplified and economical approach for advancing ecofriendly and efficient solid-state cooling technologies.

Degradation of tiamulin by a packed bed dielectric barrier plasma combined with TiO_(2)catalyst

Recently,a plasma catalyst was employed to efflciently degrade antibiotic residues in the environment.In this study,the plasma generated in a packed bed dielectric barrier reactor combined with TiO_(2)catalyst is used to degrade the antibiotic tiamulin(TIA)loaded on the surface of simulated soil particles.The effects of applied voltage,composition of the working gas,gas flow rate and presence or absence of catalyst on the degradation effect were studied.It was found that plasma and catalyst can produce a synergistic effect under optimal conditions(applied voltage 25 k V,oxygen ratio 1%,gas flow rate 0.6 l min^(-1),treatment time 5 min).The degradation efflciency of the plasma combined with catalyst can reach 78.6%,which is 18.4%higher than that of plasma without catalyst.When the applied voltage is 30 k V,the gas flow rate is 1 l min^(-1),the oxygen ratio is 1%and the plasma combined with TiO_(2)catalyst treats the sample for 5 min the degradation efflciency of TIA reached 97%.It can be concluded that a higher applied voltage and longer processing times not only lead to more degradation but also result in a lower energy efflciency.Decreasing the oxygen ratio and gas flow rate could improve the degradation efflciency.The relative distribution and identity of the major TIA degradation product generated was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis.The mechanism of TIA removal by plasma and TiO_(2)catalyst was analyzed,and the possible degradation path is discussed.