A slush-like polar structure for high energy storage performance in a Sr0.7Bi0.2TiO3 lead-free relaxor ferroelectric thin film

Dielectric materials as capacitors with high energy storage performance have received substantial attention for applications as important components in modern electrical and electronic systems. Relaxor ferroelectrics, as one of the popular dielectric materials, have demonstrated extraordinary energy storage performance. However, the origin of this extraordinary performance is not fully understood due to the complex atomic structural heterogeneity. Here, aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy is employed to study the atomistic structure of a Sr0.7Bi0.2TiO3 lead-free relaxor ferroelectric thin film, which shows high energy density of 77.8 J cm(-3), good energy efficiency of 67.8%, and high frequency, temperature and antifatigue stability simultaneously. A slush-like polar structure with 2-4 nm multi-domains and low-angle domain walls, rather than polar nanoregions, is observed, revealed and quantitively described in the Sr0.7Bi0.2TiO3 relaxor ferroelectric thin film. This slush-like polar structure is considered to enable flexible domain switching under an electric field, and is proposed as the mechanism for the high energy storage performance. These results benefit the understanding of the atomic-scale structure of relaxor ferroelectrics and provide guidance for the exploration of new relaxor ferroelectrics with high energy storage performance.

Automated summary

In this study, the atomistic structure of a Sr0.7Bi0.2TiO3 lead-free relaxor ferroelectric thin film was investigated using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy. A slush-like polar structure was discovered, which was proposed to be the mechanism for the high energy storage performance of the material. These findings contribute to the understanding of the atomic-scale structure of relaxor ferroelectrics and provide guidance for the development of new relaxor ferroelectrics with high energy storage performance.