Energy storage properties of (1-x)(Pb0.97La0.02)(Zr0.5Sn0.4Ti0.1)O3:xSnO2 composite ceramics.

● PLZST: x SnO 2 composite ceramics were prepared by solid state reaction. ● The composite structure had significant effects on microstructures and electrical properties. ● The optimal composition of x = 0.2 showed high energy storage density of 2.38 J/cm3. Constructing composite structure is an effective way to improve dielectric energy storage properties. However, ionic diffusion between composite members is generally inevitable, which mixes the effects of solid solution with composite structure on property to some extent. To exclude the ionic diffusion effect as much as possible, antiferroelectric (Pb 0.97 La 0.02)(Zr 0.5 Sn 0.4 Ti 0.1)O 3 (PLZST) was sintered at a relatively high temperature to precipitate SnO 2 particles, then more SnO 2 were introduced to from (1- x)PLZST: x SnO 2 (x = 0–0.25) composite. The results showed that composite structure had significant effects on microstructures and properties with changed lattice parameter, decreased grain size, increased Curie temperature, suppressed antiferroelectric property, and enhanced electric breakdown strength. The optimal composition of x = 0.2 showed high energy storage density of 2.38 J/cm3. This work provides a robust platform to investigate the effect of composite microstructure on electrical properties, which is helpful for further developing high performance composite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]