Ferroelectric Direct Energy Converters in Perspective

Solar, geothermal and industrial waste heat is today available in very large quantities. Phase transitions (liquid-vapor, ferro-paramagnetic, or ferro-paraelectric) are a natural choice to look for practical materials and devices to convert directly thermal into electrical energy. In all cases the conversion efficiency is of course limited by Carnot's principle (ηmax = ΔT/Tmax). Ferroelectric converters have a considerable interest whenever high voltages, accompanied by low currents, are advantageous. This works displays a more detailed discussion on the performance of ferroelectric converters using thin plates of Zr-rich PZT through the FRL-FRH phase transition. The ultimate question “Do ferroelectric converters have a future?” is also briefly discussed.