La-modified Pb(Lu1/2Nb1/2)O3 antiferroelectric ceramics with high energy storage density

LaxPb1−3x/2(Lu1/2Nb1/2)O3 antiferroelectric (AFE) ceramics with compositions of x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05 were successfully prepared and characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), AFE and dielectric measurements. The effects of La3+ content on the properties of the ceramics are discussed. The maximal value of the dielectric constant (ɛ′) and the Curie temperature (Tc) both gradually decrease from 662 to 356 and 272 °C to 240 °C respectively with increasing La3+ content from 0 to 0.05. The electric field at which the material transitions from the AFE phase to ferroelectric (FE) phase increases along with increasing La3+ content and the maximum value of energy storage density is estimated to be 3.85 J/cm3 at 200 °C based on the unsaturated double hysteresis loops. These results indicate that La-doping is an effective method to improve the energy storage density of the Pb(Lu1/2Nb1/2)O3 AFE ceramics.