Enhanced energy storage properties of (1−x)Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-xBa0.85Ca0.15Ti0.9Zr0.1O3 ceramics

• Energy storage properties of (1−x)BNT-xBCTZ ceramics were first investigated.
• The sample with x=0.525 exhibits the highest energy density of 0.8669 J/cm3.
• The sample with x=0.55 exhibits the highest energy efficiency of 82.37%.
• Four evident current peaks are found in the I-E curves of x=0.475.

Energy storage properties of (1−x)Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-xBa0.85Ca0.15Ti0.9Zr0.1O3 ceramics prepared by solid state reaction were first investigated. The results of XRD for all samples show a pure perovskite phase and a pseudo-cubic symmetry. The P-E loops illustrate that the addition of Ba0.85Ca0.15Ti0.9Zr0.1O3 can enhance the breakdown strength, discharge and charge energy density and energy efficiency. The sample with x=0.525 exhibits the highest breakdown strength of 9.35 kV/mm, discharge energy density of 0.87 J/cm3 and charge energy density of 1.06 J/cm3. The sample with x=0.55 exhibits the highest energy efficiency of 82.37%. Four evident current peaks are found in the I-E curves of x=0.475. Two current peaks are the evidence of ferroelectric domain switching for x≥0.50.