Thermoelectric response of a ferroelectric insulator

Abstract

Thermoelectric effects enable the conversion between heat and electricity without moving parts. While conventionally associated with mobile charges, we report thermoelectricity caused by bound charges in the form of temperature changes measured by multi-harmonic lock-in thermography of a ferroelectric under an ac electric field. The observed temperature gradient depends on the field-induced displacement current, a Peltier effect in a dielectric material. Its coefficient exceeds 100 V around the ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition, which is several orders of magnitude greater than reported values in conductors. Our findings uncover previously hidden functionalities of ferroelectric materials for thermal management by directional heat transport in ferroelectrics.