Achieving improved dielectric energy storage properties in Na0.4505Bi0.3825Sr0.136Nb0.085Er0.015TiO3 ferroelectric ceramics via La modification and processing optimization

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2025.04.041

In this study, lanthanum (La) modified 0.85(0.9Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃–0.1Na_0.8Sr_0.1NbO₃) −0.15Sr_0.85Er_0.1TiO₃ ceramics, abbreviated as (NBT–NSN)–SET–xLa, ceramics were synthesised. The best 0.020 La ceramic specimens were selected and improved by viscous polymer processing (VPP) to further enhance their energy storage densities. It ultimately reached a high breakdown field strength of 460 kV/cm, at which the recoverable energy density and efficiency of 6.87 J/cm³ and 74.7 % were attained. At present, although many studies on La doping have shown that La elements can effectively refine grains, thereby increasing electrical breakdown strength and ultimately improving energy storage performance. However, there is no clear explanation at the mechanism layer. In this article we try to make this clearer in terms of structural evolution and modelling. We use XRD and Raman spectroscopy to elucidate the effect of La doping on structural evolution and explain the relationship between structure and properties. In addition, this study combined with comsol software to simulate the electrical breakdown process after La doping, which can help readers to fully understand the mechanism and lay a theoretical foundation for future industrial applications.