Superior energy storage density and giant negative electrocaloric effects in (Pb0.98La0.02)(Zr, Sn)O3 antiferroelectric ceramics

Antiferroelectric materials are demanded in energy storage and solid-state cooling devices due to their distinct hysteresis loops and phase transition behaviors. In this work, (Pb0.98La0.02)(ZrxSn1-x)0.995O3 (PLZSx) antiferroelectric bulk ceramics with x = 0.45–0.60 were prepared via the conventional solid-state reaction approach. The recoverable energy storage density of 4.8 J cm−3 and energy storage efficiency of 82.5% were procured in PLZS0.6 ceramics. In addition, the hysteresis loops were measured over a broad range of temperature/electric field and the electrocaloric effects were calculated using the Maxwell relation. The linear parts occurred in the polarization – electric field (P-E) hysteresis loop were fitted, and a power function of Em with m>2 for antiferroelectrics, while m<2 for normal ferroelectrics and relaxor ferroelectrics were procured. A giant negative electrocaloric effect (ΔT=-10.2 K) was also obtained at an operating temperature of 383 K and 20 MV m − 1.