Effect of Zr:Sn ratio in the lead lanthanum zirconate stannate titanate anti-ferroelectric ceramics on energy storage properties

(Pb0.87Ba0.1La0.02)(ZrxSn0.95-xTi0.05)O-3 (PBLZST, x=0.6-0.8) anti-ferroelectric ceramics have been prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction process, and the dependence of phase structure, unit cell volume, anti-ferroelectric properties and energy storage properties on the Zr:Sn ratio has been studied. When x=0.675, the sample has a high saturation polarization of 43.5 mu C/cm(2), a large stored energy density of 2.05 J/cm(3), and a high energy efficiency of 68.5%, and exhibits the largest recoverable energy density of 1.4 J/cm(3), which is about seven times higher than that of PBLZST with x=0.6 or 0.8. The results indicate that varying the Zr:Sn ratio is an effective method to improve the energy storage properties of the PBLZST anti-ferroelectric ceramics. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.