The energy storage properties of fine-grained Ba0.8Sr0.2Zr0.1Ti0.9O3 ceramics enhanced by MgO and ZnO-B2O3-SiO2 coatings

Abstract

Using submicron Ba0.8Sr0.2Zr0.1Ti0.9O3 (BSZT) particles as a starting material, MgO as a material with high dielectric breakdown strength (BDS), and ZnO-B2O3-SiO2 (ZBSO) as a sintering agent, we rationally designed BSZT@MgO@ZBSO particles. The particles had a diameter of about 270 nm, high uniformity and high dispersity and were fabricated using a double-coating approach to simultaneously improve BDS and densification of the ceramics. The MgO and ZBSO layers in the BSZT@MgO@ZBSO particles averaged about 7 and 14 nm, respectively, in thickness. We obtained dense, fine-grained relaxor-like ferroelectric BSZT@MgO@ZBSO ceramics (grain size ≤ 300 nm) by sintering at 1140 °C for 2 h. As the ZBSO amount increased from 0.0 to 4.0 wt%, the discharged energy density increased to a maximum of 0.71 J/cm3 under a maximum polarization field of 24.1 kV/mm. As the ZBSO amount increased from 6.0 to 8.0 wt%, the discharged energy density decreased.