Remarkably enhanced recoverable energy density in lead-free relaxor Ba0.94Ca0.06Ti1−xSnxO3 ceramics by the synergistic effect of nano-domains and refined grains

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2022-03, Vol.897, p.163212, Article 163212
• Main Authors: Zhu, Xiaopei, Gao, Yangfei, Kang, Ruirui, Shi, Peng, Wang, Zepeng, Yuan, Ye, Qiao, Wenjing, Zhao, Jiantuo, Ren, Zijun, Lou, Xiaojie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activation energy; Ba0.94Ca0.06Ti1−xSnxO3; Capacitors; Ceramics; Doping; Energy storage; Energy storage performance; Ferroelectricity; Flux density; Grain boundaries; Lead free; Polarization saturation; Synergistic effect
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2021.163212

•Through modifying Sn4+ content, the breakdown strength is increased by 112.3%.•The recoverable energy density enhanced by 276.2% via incorporation of Sn4+.•The doping of Sn4+ inhibits the migration of grain boundary and refines grains.•The delayed polarization saturation result from Sn4+ with d10 substitutes Ti4+ with d0. [Display omitted] High-performance dielectric ceramic capacitors is a promising candidate in energy storage devices. In this work, the energy storage performance of Ba0.94Ca0.06Ti1−xSnxO3 (x = 0.04, 0.08, 0.12, 0.16) ceramics was systematically studied. Through modifying Sn4+ doping content, the breakdown strength of the ceramics is enhanced by 112.3% from 133.4 kV/cm (Ba0.94Ca0.06Ti0.96Sn0.04O3) to 283.2 kV/cm (Ba0.94Ca0.06Ti0.84Sn0.16O3). Accordingly, the recoverable energy density is greatly increased by 276.2%, that is, from 0.42 J/cm3 grow to 1.58 J/cm3. The enhanced energy storage properties could be ascribed to the following aspects: (1) the doping of Sn4+ with a larger ionic radius inhibits the migration of grain boundaries and therefore refines grains, resulting in a higher activation energy and a larger Eb; (2) the long range polar order is broke and polar nano-regions are formed, giving rise to lower energy barrier and smaller Pr; (3) the weakened ferroelectricity and delayed polarization saturation lead to higher Wrec owing to the fact that Sn4+ with d10 electronic configurations substitutes Ti4+ with d0. Our work provides a novel approach for enhancing energy storage performance in dielectric ceramic capacitors.