Solenoid Actuating Electrocaloric Cooling Device with Relaxor Ferroelectric Polymer

Abstract

In this work, the [P(VDF-TrFE-CFE)] is used as an EC material with a solenoid actuator. The terpolymer film (EC film) is fabricated through a solution process and annealed to enhance crystallinity. The enhanced crystallinity is confirmed by XRD analysis, and the thickness of the film observed by the SEM image is 40 nm. After, single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) are coated onto the top and bottom of the EC film as an electrode layer to apply the electric field. The induced adiabatic temperature change of the EC material is ~ 2.2 K with the applied electric field of 50 MV/m. To ensure conformal thermal contact and reduce a loss of heat between the EC film and heat source/sink, the film is sandwiched in a thin metal plate with thermal grease. The formed metal/EC film/metal (MEM) structure, EC stack, serves as a solid-state refrigerant.