Enhanced breakdown strength and energy density of antiferroelectric Pb,La(Zr,Sn,Ti)O3 ceramic by forming core-shell structure

Antiferroelectric Pb0.97La0.02(Zr0.33Sn0.55Ti0.12)O3@SiO2 (with 5% mole of SiO2) particles were synthesized by a citric acid sol-gel method. Transmission electron microscopy(TEM) results illustrated the formation of core-shell nanostructures with controllable shell thicknesses about 3-5 nm. X-ray diffraction(XRD) patterns displayed that a stable perovskite phase was preserved and no other crystallization peaks were discovered from the shell component. Scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer(EDS) investigations confirmed that core-shell structures were inherited from particles to ceramics after sintering. As a result, through the coating process, the breakdown strength of the ceramic increases by 95% from 12.2 kV/mm to 23.8 kV/mm and the recoverable energy density was greatly enhanced from 1.76 J/cm3 to 2.68 J/cm3. These results demonstrate a promising reaction method to enhance breakdown strength in antiferroelectrics for energy storage capacitor applications.