Measuring lead scandium tantalate phase transition entropy by infrared camera

Abstract

Using an infrared camera, we measured the latent heat of the first order phase transition in lead scandium tantalate at different applied electric fields. The entropy change value of 3.4 J kg_ 1 K_ 1 is consistent with differential scanning calorimetry measurements. The advantage of such an approach stems from the possibility to obtain both adiabatic temperature change and latent heat of the phase transition material only with an infrared camera or a thermocouple. This may prove useful for a systemic characterization of first order electrocaloric materials.