Excellent energy storage performance of Nd-modified lead-free AgNbO3 ceramics via triple collaborative optimization

Lead-free Dielectric capacitors that possess high power density as well as swift charging/discharging speed are in tremendous requirement in pulse/high power fields, but the lower recovery energy density and efficiency restrict their applications. Herein, via triple collaborative optimization, we designed Nd-modified AgNbO3 antiferroelectric ceramics with excellent energy storage performance. First, Nd3+ ions are smaller than Ag+ ions, which effectively inhibits cation displacements and the tilting of oxygen octahedra, leading to an optimized phase composition, the suppressed ferroelectricity and enhanced antiferroelectricity. Second, the valence of Nd3+ ions are higher than that of Ag+ ions, which help to lower the content of oxygen vacancies. Third, the random substitution of Nd3+, extrinsic ions, cause the chemical disorder, thus dwindling the grain size. Both of the latter could boost the breakdown field. Eventually, the synchronously boosted energy density of 7.16 J/cm(3) and efficiency of 72 %, together with excellent frequency stability, temperature tolerance, ultrafast charging/discharging time of 45 ns and superhigh power density of 354.2 MW/cm(3), are achieved in Ag0.91Nd0.03NbO3. All these merits manifest Nd- AgNbO3 as a promising candidate for lead-free high-power energy storage devices. Our work brings forward a good reference for developing the capabilities of antiferroelectric capacitors.