Ultrahigh Energy‐Storage Density in Antiferroelectric Ceramics with Field‐Induced Multiphase Transitions

TLDR

Ceramic capacitors are prized for high power density, fast discharge, and wide temperature operation, enabling broad energy‑storage applications. The study aims to develop PLZS antiferroelectric ceramics with superior energy‑storage performance. The authors synthesize PLZS ceramics using a unique rolling‑machine approach and characterize their field‑induced multiphase transitions via P–E hysteresis loops. The PLZS ceramics exhibit an ultrahigh recoverable energy‑storage density of 10.4 J cm⁻³, 87 % discharge efficiency, 1640 A cm⁻² current density, and 75 ns discharge time, surpassing all previously reported bulk ceramics.

Abstract

Abstract The excellent energy‐storage performance of ceramic capacitors, such as high‐power density, fast discharge speed, and the ability to operate over a broad temperature range, gives rise to their wide applications in different energy‐storage devices. In this work, the (Pb 0.98 La 0.02 )(Zr 0.55 Sn 0.45 ) 0.995 O 3 (PLZS) antiferroelectric (AFE) ceramics are prepared via a unique rolling machine approach. The field‐induced multiphase transitions are observed in polarization–electric field (P–E) hysteresis loops. All the PLZS AFE ceramics possess high energy‐storage densities and discharge efficiency (above 80%) with different sintering temperatures. Of particular significance is that an ultrahigh recoverable energy‐storage density of 10.4 J cm ‐3 and a high discharge efficiency of 87% are achieved at 40 kV mm ‐1 for PLZS ceramic with a thickness of 0.11 mm, sintered at 1175 °C, which are by far the highest values ever reported in bulk ceramics. Moreover, the corresponding ceramics exhibit a superior discharge current density of 1640 A cm ‐2 and ultrafast discharge speed (75 ns discharge period). This great improvement in energy‐storage performance is expected to expand the practical applications of dielectric ceramics in numerous electronic devices.