Significantly Enhanced Energy Storage Performance of Lead-Free BiFeO3-Based Ceramics via Synergic Optimization Strategy

Owing to the merits of giant power density and ultrafast charge–discharge time, dielectric capacitors including ceramics and films have inspired increasing interest lately. Nevertheless, the energy storage density of dielectric ceramics should be further optimized to cater to the boosting demand for the compact and portable electronic devices. Herein, an ultrahigh recoverable energy storage density Wrec of 13.44 J/cm3 and a high efficiency η of 90.14% are simultaneously realized in BiFeO3–BaTiO3–NaTaO3 relaxor ferroelectric ceramics with high polarization Pmax, reduced remanent polarization Pr, and optimized electric breakdown strength Eb. High Pmax originates from the genes of BiFeO3-based ceramics, and reduced Pr is induced by enhanced relaxor behavior. Particularly, a large Eb is achieved by the synergic contributions from complicated internal and external factors, such as decreased grain size and improved resistivity and electrical homogeneity. Furthermore, the ceramics also exhibit satisfactory frequency, cycling and thermal reliability, and decent charge–discharge property. This work not only indicates that the BiFeO3-based relaxor ferroelectric materials are promising choices for the next-generation electrostatic capacitors but also paves a potential approach to exploit novel high-performance dielectric ceramics.