Simultaneously achieving ultrahigh energy density and power density in PbZrO3-based antiferroelectric ceramics with field-induced multistage phase transition

Ceramic-based dielectric capacitors are the heart components of advanced power electronic devices and pulsed power systems to store and release electrical energy due to excellent charge-discharge properties. However, the unsatisfactory energy-storage density has limited their practical applications. Therefore, it is still a significant challenge to develop dielectric ceramics with further improved energy density and power density to satisfy the growing demands. Herein, high energy density and power density in a dielectric ceramic is achieved in(Pb0.94La0.04)(ZrxSn0.99-xTi0.01)O-3 antiferroelectric (AFE) ceramics by constructed multistage phase transition (MPT) and realized high densification. All the ceramics possess large polarization response and high electric breakdown strength (BDS) under the effect of MPT and high densification, respectively. Consequently, a superior recoverable energy density of 13 J/cm(3) and an ultrahigh power density of 324.8 MW/cm(3) together with a giant current density of 1910.8 A/cm(2) are realized simultaneously due to the synergistic effect of MPT and high densification. These excellent performances indicate that the studied ceramics have the potential to meet the growing demands and be applied for dielectric capacitors in advanced power electronic devices and pulsed power systems. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.