Effect of SnO2 doping on electric field-induced antiferroelectric-to-ferroelectric phase transition of Pb(Yb1/2Nb1/2)0.98Sn0.02O3 ceramics

Abstract

Pb(Yb1/2Nb1/2)0.98Sn0.02O3-xSnO2 (PYNS-xSn) antiferroelectric ceramics with high Curie temperatures (Tc), were prepared by the solid state reaction method. The double P-E hysteresis loops of PYNS-xSn ceramics (0.02 ≤ x ≤ 0.08) were observed at the temperatures higher than 180 °C, confirming its antiferroelectric nature. The electric fields (EAFE-FE) inducing the transition from antiferroelectric (AFE) phase to ferroelectric (FE) phase were decreased to be lower than the average dielectric breakdown strength (Eb) by SnO2 doping. The decrease of EAFE-FE can be attributed to the larger lattice constant ratio a/b and the lower B-site cation ordering. The energy storage performance is enhanced effectively with the decrease of EAFE-FE. The maximum energy storage efficiency (67.9%) and recoverable energy storage density (2.38 J/cm3) were obtained in PYNS-0.06Sn ceramics at the temperature of 180 °C. The results indicated that SnO2-doped PYNS antiferroelectric ceramics could be potential candidates for energy storage applications at elevated temperatures.