High energy-storage performance of PLZS antiferroelectric multilayer ceramic capacitors

Abstract

Multilayer ceramic capacitors in energy-storage applications have received increasing attention due to the advantages of high power density, low drive voltage and fast charge/discharge rates. However, the low energy density is a great challenge which limits the applications of multilayer ceramic capacitors. Here, an antiferroelectric Pb_0.98La_0.02(Zr_xSn_1−x)_0.995O₃ (PLZS) system is investigated and the corresponding multilayer ceramic capacitors with Pt inner electrodes are prepared. A record-high energy-storage density of 12.6 J cm⁻³ and a high energy efficiency of 80% are achieved in Pb_0.98La_0.02(Zr_0.7Sn_0.3)_0.995O₃ multilayer ceramic capacitors, which consist of five dielectric layers with a single-layer thickness of 20 μm. Furthermore, the newly developed capacitors also exhibit a wide temperature usage range of 25 to 120 °C and strong fatigue endurance after 10⁶ cycles. These results suggest that the Pb_0.98La_0.02(Zr_0.7Sn_0.3)_0.995O₃ multilayer ceramic capacitors will be potential candidates for next-generation pulsed power capacitors.