Publication Type
Journal
Journal Name
Journal of Applied Physics
Publication Date
Page Number
042009
Volume
108
Issue
4
Abstract
The size effect on pyroelectric response of ferroelectric nanowires is analyzed. The pyroelectric
coefficient strongly increases with the wire radius decrease and diverges at critical radius Rcr
corresponding to the size-driven transition into paraelectric phase. Size-driven enhancement of
pyroelectric coupling leads to the giant pyroelectric current and voltage generation by the polarized
ferroelectric nanoparticles in response to the temperature fluctuation. The maximum efficiency of
the pyroelectric energy harvesting and bolometric detection is derived, and is shown to approach the
Carnot limit for low temperatures.