Routes to enhance pyroelectricity

Abstract

Pyroelectric materials have been recognized by humankind for over a century, with significant technical progress achieved in the last 70 years in both scientific comprehension and practical applications. Lattices, domains, boundaries, defects, and their interactions across various length scales influence their performance. This chapter discusses various routes to enhance pyroelectric properties from the atomic to the macroscopic scale. The control of microstructure through manufacturing processes, texturing, core-shell designs, and chemical additives plays a vital role in optimizing the performance of pyroelectric ceramics. Developing composites, porosity, functionally graded materials, and additive manufacturing techniques improves pyroelectric performance. Interfaces, defects, and external factors such as stress, poling, electric fields, temperature, etc., significantly impact pyroelectric characteristics. This chapter briefly addresses these factors and examines alternative methods to enhance pyroelectricity. The key guidelines for the synergistic design of novel pyroelectric materials are: (i) elucidating the underlying mechanisms, (ii) achieving a substantial temperature-stable pyroelectric response, and (iii) ensuring a fabrication-friendly and customizable composition. © 2026 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.