Significantly enhanced energy storage density in lead-free barium strontium titanate-based ceramics through a cooperative optimization strategy

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. C, Materials for optical and electronic devices Materials for optical and electronic devices, 2023-12, Vol.11 (47), p.16739-16747
• Main Authors: Ren, Jia-Jia, Xu, Di-Ming, Li, Da, Zhao, Wei-Chen, Xu, Meng-Kang, Shi, Zhong-Qi, Zhou, Tao, Lin, Hui-Xing, Zhou, Di
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Barium strontium titanates; Ceramics; Electric fields; Electronic components; Energy storage; Ferroelectricity; Frequency ranges; High temperature; Lead free; Optimization
• ISSN: 2050-7526; 2050-7534
• DOI: 10.1039/d3tc03806h

Lead-free ceramics are important in the sustainable advancement of energy storage techniques owing to their exceptional density of power, commendable resistance to high temperatures, and non-toxic nature. However, lead-free ceramics are no longer aligned with the requirements for the miniaturization and light weighting of electronic components because of their limited energy density and conversion efficiency. In this study, the storage performance of lead-free ceramics was optimized by constructing (1 − x )(Ba 0.8 Sr 0.2 )TiO 3 - x Bi(Zn 2/3 Ta 1/3 )O 3 ceramics using a cooperative optimization strategy. This strategy involved utilizing Bi(Zn 2/3 Ta 1/3 )O 3 to induce polar nano-regions, contributing to an increase in E b and a reduction in P r , thereby enhancing the energy storage properties. Notably, the 0.91(Ba 0.8 Sr 0.2 )TiO 3 -0.09Bi(Zn 2/3 Ta 1/3 )O 3 relaxation ferroelectric ceramic demonstrated the ability to simultaneously achieve an ultra-high W rec of 5.53 J cm −3 and an excellent η of 93.6% at a relatively high electric field intensity of 460 kV cm −1 . Furthermore, the samples exhibited a high η (∼96%) in the 5-100 Hz frequency range and in the 30-100 °C temperature range. The collective outstanding performance of the 0.91(Ba 0.8 Sr 0.2 )TiO 3 -0.09Bi(Zn 2/3 Ta 1/3 )O 3 ceramic substantiates its immense potential for utilization in pulse power capacitors. An ultrahigh W rec of 5.53 J cm −3 (460 kV cm −1 ) has been achieved in the 0.91BST-0.09BZT ceramic, together with good temperature stability at 200 kV cm −1 and excellent fatigue resistance.