Local structural origin of relaxor antiferroelectric behavior in NaNbO3-based ceramics

Xiangyu Meng; Liran Yuan; Dongxu Li; Pengbin Wang; Qinghu Guo; Xiaoyan Gan; Zhonghua Yao; Hanxing Liu; Jinsong Wu; Shujun Zhang; Hua Hao

doi:10.1016/j.cej.2025.163109

Local structural origin of relaxor antiferroelectric behavior in NaNbO3-based ceramics

Xiangyu Meng, Liran Yuan, Dongxu Li, Pengbin Wang, Qinghu Guo, Xiaoyan Gan, Zhonghua Yao, Hanxing Liu, Jinsong Wu, Shujun Zhang^*, Hua Hao^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Relaxor-antiferroelectrics (relaxor-AFEs), known for their double polarization–electric field (P-E) hysteresis loops and relaxor characteristics, exhibit outstanding energy storage performance compared to other dielectric materials. However, the origins of their antiferroelectric-like behavior and relaxor features remain unclear due to their complex local structure. In this study, we designed relaxor-AFEs with a high degree of relaxor component and stable antiferroelectric behavior. The recoverable energy density (W_rec) of up to 4.6J/cm³ and energy efficiency of ∼ 79 % were achieved in a 0.76NaNbO₃-0.16Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃-0.08CaTiO₃ ceramic, demonstrating excellent thermal and frequency stability. The multiphase local polarization configuration was confirmed by atomic-resolution annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (ADF STEM). Additionally, integrated differential phase contrast (iDPC) images revealed an enhanced antiferrodistortion (AFD) induced by incorporating component with low tolerance factor, contributing to stable antiferroelectric behavior. The relationship between chemical heterogeneity, polarization configuration and energy storage performance was systematically established. This work provides insights into the structure origin and underlying mechanisms for relaxor-AFE performance, with potential implications to guide the development of advanced energy-storage dielectric materials. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.

Original language	English
Article number	163109
Journal	Chemical Engineering Journal
Volume	514
Online published	27 Apr 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.163109
Publication status	Published - 15 Jun 2025
Externally published	Yes

Funding

This work was supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2023YFB3812200 ), Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52472135 ), Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (No. 2022B1515120041 ) and Center for International Cooperation and Disciplinary Innovation ( 111 Center , B23016 ).

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Research Keywords

Antiferrodistortion
Energy storage
Multiphase polarization configuration
Relaxor-antiferroelectric

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10.1016/j.cej.2025.163109

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@article{f3c3479394414facb817a2ff3f866470,

title = "Local structural origin of relaxor antiferroelectric behavior in NaNbO3-based ceramics",

abstract = "Relaxor-antiferroelectrics (relaxor-AFEs), known for their double polarization–electric field (P-E) hysteresis loops and relaxor characteristics, exhibit outstanding energy storage performance compared to other dielectric materials. However, the origins of their antiferroelectric-like behavior and relaxor features remain unclear due to their complex local structure. In this study, we designed relaxor-AFEs with a high degree of relaxor component and stable antiferroelectric behavior. The recoverable energy density (Wrec) of up to 4.6J/cm3 and energy efficiency of ∼ 79 % were achieved in a 0.76NaNbO3-0.16Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-0.08CaTiO3 ceramic, demonstrating excellent thermal and frequency stability. The multiphase local polarization configuration was confirmed by atomic-resolution annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (ADF STEM). Additionally, integrated differential phase contrast (iDPC) images revealed an enhanced antiferrodistortion (AFD) induced by incorporating component with low tolerance factor, contributing to stable antiferroelectric behavior. The relationship between chemical heterogeneity, polarization configuration and energy storage performance was systematically established. This work provides insights into the structure origin and underlying mechanisms for relaxor-AFE performance, with potential implications to guide the development of advanced energy-storage dielectric materials. {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier B.V.",

keywords = "Antiferrodistortion, Energy storage, Multiphase polarization configuration, Relaxor-antiferroelectric",

author = "Xiangyu Meng and Liran Yuan and Dongxu Li and Pengbin Wang and Qinghu Guo and Xiaoyan Gan and Zhonghua Yao and Hanxing Liu and Jinsong Wu and Shujun Zhang and Hua Hao",

year = "2025",

month = jun,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1016/j.cej.2025.163109",

language = "English",

volume = "514",

journal = "Chemical Engineering Journal",

issn = "1385-8947",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Local structural origin of relaxor antiferroelectric behavior in NaNbO3-based ceramics

AU - Meng, Xiangyu

AU - Yuan, Liran

AU - Li, Dongxu

AU - Wang, Pengbin

AU - Guo, Qinghu

AU - Gan, Xiaoyan

AU - Yao, Zhonghua

AU - Liu, Hanxing

AU - Wu, Jinsong

AU - Zhang, Shujun

AU - Hao, Hua

PY - 2025/6/15

Y1 - 2025/6/15

N2 - Relaxor-antiferroelectrics (relaxor-AFEs), known for their double polarization–electric field (P-E) hysteresis loops and relaxor characteristics, exhibit outstanding energy storage performance compared to other dielectric materials. However, the origins of their antiferroelectric-like behavior and relaxor features remain unclear due to their complex local structure. In this study, we designed relaxor-AFEs with a high degree of relaxor component and stable antiferroelectric behavior. The recoverable energy density (Wrec) of up to 4.6J/cm3 and energy efficiency of ∼ 79 % were achieved in a 0.76NaNbO3-0.16Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-0.08CaTiO3 ceramic, demonstrating excellent thermal and frequency stability. The multiphase local polarization configuration was confirmed by atomic-resolution annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (ADF STEM). Additionally, integrated differential phase contrast (iDPC) images revealed an enhanced antiferrodistortion (AFD) induced by incorporating component with low tolerance factor, contributing to stable antiferroelectric behavior. The relationship between chemical heterogeneity, polarization configuration and energy storage performance was systematically established. This work provides insights into the structure origin and underlying mechanisms for relaxor-AFE performance, with potential implications to guide the development of advanced energy-storage dielectric materials. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.

AB - Relaxor-antiferroelectrics (relaxor-AFEs), known for their double polarization–electric field (P-E) hysteresis loops and relaxor characteristics, exhibit outstanding energy storage performance compared to other dielectric materials. However, the origins of their antiferroelectric-like behavior and relaxor features remain unclear due to their complex local structure. In this study, we designed relaxor-AFEs with a high degree of relaxor component and stable antiferroelectric behavior. The recoverable energy density (Wrec) of up to 4.6J/cm3 and energy efficiency of ∼ 79 % were achieved in a 0.76NaNbO3-0.16Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-0.08CaTiO3 ceramic, demonstrating excellent thermal and frequency stability. The multiphase local polarization configuration was confirmed by atomic-resolution annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (ADF STEM). Additionally, integrated differential phase contrast (iDPC) images revealed an enhanced antiferrodistortion (AFD) induced by incorporating component with low tolerance factor, contributing to stable antiferroelectric behavior. The relationship between chemical heterogeneity, polarization configuration and energy storage performance was systematically established. This work provides insights into the structure origin and underlying mechanisms for relaxor-AFE performance, with potential implications to guide the development of advanced energy-storage dielectric materials. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.

KW - Antiferrodistortion

KW - Energy storage

KW - Multiphase polarization configuration

KW - Relaxor-antiferroelectric

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U2 - 10.1016/j.cej.2025.163109

DO - 10.1016/j.cej.2025.163109

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 1385-8947

VL - 514

JO - Chemical Engineering Journal

JF - Chemical Engineering Journal

M1 - 163109

ER -

Local structural origin of relaxor antiferroelectric behavior in NaNbO3-based ceramics

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