Influence of BaSnO3 additive on the energy storage properties of Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-based relaxor ferroelectrics

(1-x)NBT-xBSN (0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.35) ceramics were prepared by solid state methods and their energy storage properties and high-temperature capacitor applications were systematically investigated. All samples showed a perovskite structure and the structure transformed to lower symmetry orthorhombic phase (x ≥ 0.1) from rhombohedral phase (x < 0.1) to with the addition of BSN. The more addition content of BSN significantly decreases phase transition temperature Tm of NBT ceramics. The x = 0.25 sample exhibits a stable relative permittivity of 1605 ± 15% in a broad temperature range of 38 °C to 319 °C. With increasing BSN concentration, the slope of the P-E loops and the energy loss gradually decreases. When x = 0.25, a high breakdown strength of 190 kV/cm and the maximum discharge energy density of 1.91 J/cm3 were obtained, of which the energy efficiency was as high as 86.4%. Thus, it was believed that our work could provide a significant guidance for designing the new system for energy storage.