Medium electric field-induced ultrahigh polarization response and boosted energy-storage characteristics in BNT-based relaxor ferroelectric polycrystalline ceramics

Lead-free dielectric ceramics with a high recoverable energy-storage density (Wrec) and improved efficiency (eta) are crucial for the development of pulse power capacitor devices. Although Wrec has been constantly improving, mainly via an increased breakdown electric field strength (Eb), a large driving electric field (>500 kV/cm) in-creases security risks and consequently increases insulating technology costs. In this work, we present a new (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3 (BNT)-based relaxor ferroelectric system, (1-x)(0.75Bi0.5Na0.4K0.1TiO3-0.25SrTiO3)-xBi (Mg0.5Ti0.5)O3 (BS-xBMT), with x ranging from 0.05 to 0.20. BMT disrupts both the A-and B-site long-range ferroelectric order of the ABO3 perovskite-structured BS matrix, induces polar nanoregions, and simulta-neously increases Wrec and eta. Aided by the viscous polymer process, the Eb with x = 0.15 increased to 270 kV/cm, and a maximum polarization (Pm) of 62 mu C/cm2 was attained. A boosted Wrec of 4.82 J/cm3 and a high eta of 84.9% were simultaneously obtained, together with good temperature stability from 30 to 140 degrees C. These results show that BNT-based dielectric ceramics with superior energy-storage properties can be obtained under a me-dium electric field.

Automated summary

This study presents a new BNT-based relaxor ferroelectric system, which disrupts the long-range ferroelectric order and induces polar nanoregions to improve Wrec and eta. The material shows superior energy-storage properties under a medium electric field, with good temperature stability.