Antiferroelectric-ferroelectric phase transition in lead-free AgNbO3 ceramics for energy storage applications

The high-energy storage density reported in lead-free AgNbO3 ceramics makes it a fascinating material for energy storage applications. The phase transition process of AgNbO3 ceramics plays an important role in its properties and dominates the temperature and electric field dependent behavior. In this work, the phase transition behavior of AgNbO3 ceramics was investigated by polarization hysteresis and dielectric tunability measurements. It is revealed that the ferrielectric (FIE) phase at room temperature possesses both ferroelectric (FE)-like and antiferroelectric (AFE)-like dielectric responses prior to the critical AFE-FE transition point. A recoverable energy storage density of 2J/cm(3) was achieved at 150kV/cm due to the AFE-FE transition. Based on a modified Laudau phenomenological theory, the stabilities among the AFE, FE and FIE phases are discussed, laying a foundation for further optimization of the dielectric properties of AgNbO3.