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Open Access

High-accuracy characterization of pyroelectric materials: A noncontact method based on surface potential measurements

    https://doi.org/10.1142/S2010135X23410023Cited by:2 (Source: Crossref)
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    This article is part of the issue:
    Special Issue on Functional Dielectrics, Commemorating the 70th Birthday of Prof. Dr. Reimund Gerhard for His Contributions in the Field of Dielectrics
    Guest Editors: Thulasinath Raman Venkatesan and Zhongyang Cheng

    Abstract

    The characterization of pyroelectric materials is essential for the design of pyroelectric-based devices. Pyroelectric current measurement is the commonly employed method, but can be complex and requires surface electrodes. Here, we present noncontact electrostatic voltmeter measurements as a simple but highly accurate alternative, by assessing thermally-induced pyroelectric surface potential variations. We introduce a refined model that relates the surface potential variations to both the pyroelectric coefficient and the characteristic figure of merit (FOM) and test the model with square-shaped samples made from PVDF, LiNbO3 and LiTaO3. The characteristic pyroelectric coefficient for PVDF, LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 was found to be 33.4, 59.9 and 208.4 μC m−2 K−1, respectively. These values are in perfect agreement with literature values, and they differ by less than 2.5% from values that we have obtained with standard pyroelectric current measurements for comparison.

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