A self-actuated electrocaloric polymer heat pump design exploiting the synergy of electrocaloric effect and electrostriction

Abstract Caloric cooling is an attractive family of technologies owing to their environmental friendliness and potential for higher efficiency than present refrigeration systems. Cooling devices based on the electrocaloric (EC) effect specifically have added benefit being easily miniaturized, enabling applications in electronic thermal management, wearables localized cooling. A challenge prior compact EC has been need a separate actuation mechanism cyclically contact material with hot cold interfaces. Here, we propose self-actuated polymer heat pump, exploiting recent discoveries giant electromechanical responses under low electric fields P(VDF-TrFE-CFE-FA) (VDF: vinylidene fluoride, TrFE: trifluoroethylene, CFE: chlorofluoroethylene, FA: fluorinated alkynes) relaxor tetrapolymers. We show that transverse electroactuation tetrapolymer films can be tailored over broad range, from strong weak actuation, without affecting high response. Using this principle, unimorph actuator was constructed two layers large differences electroactuation. This device autonomously achieves displacement between heating cycles films, which could used switch concept thus enable highly efficient pumps.