Superior comprehensive energy storage performances in Eu-doped AgNbO3 antiferroelectric ceramics

Antiferroelectric (AFE) dielectrics are considered promising materials for pulse power applications due to their high energy density. However, the energy storage performance of AgNbO3 lead-free AFE ceramics suffers from low breakdown strength (Eb) and weak AFE stability at room temperature. Along these lines, in this work, the tape-casting process together with Eu-doping was used to improve Eb and enhance AFE stability of the AgNbO3 ceramics. As a result, an ultrahigh recoverable energy storage density of 10.0 J/cm3 was obtained in the (Ag0.91Eu0.03)NbO3 ceramic, which surpasses all the reported values of AgNbO3-based ceramics in the literatures. Meanwhile, the recoverable energy storage density of (Ag0.91Eu0.03)NbO3 ceramic showed excellent temperature- and frequency-stability. Interestingly, a remarkable discharge energy density of 8.0 J/cm3 was obtained in the pulsed charge/discharge test. These results clearly indicate that the (Ag0.91Eu0.03)NbO3 ceramics prepared via the tape-casting process exhibit great potential for energy storage applications and shed light on the design of energy storage ceramics in other materials.