Film thickness dependence of electrocaloric effect in epitaxial Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 thin films

Based on the phenomenological Landau-Devonshire thermodynamic theory, the film thickness dependence of electrocaloric effect in epitaxial Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 thin films is investigated. Theoretical analysis shows that the Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 thin films grown on LaAlO3 and MgO substrates have the giant electrocaloric effect at room temperature. Our theoretical calculations also indicate that the entropy and electrocaloric effect strongly depend on film thickness. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.