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Design of hierarchical-heterostructure antiferroelectrics for ultrahigh capacitive energy storage

Author

Listed:
  • Liang Chen

    (University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, Department of Physical Chemistry)

  • Tengfei Hu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics & The Key Lab of Inorganic Functional Materials and Devices, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics)

  • He Qi

    (Hainan University, State Key Laboratory of Tropic Ocean Engineering Materials and Materials Evaluation)

  • Huifen Yu

    (University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, Department of Physical Chemistry)

  • Zhengqian Fu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics & The Key Lab of Inorganic Functional Materials and Devices, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics)

  • Shujun Zhang

    (University of Wollongong, Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, Australian Institute of Innovative Materials)

  • Jun Chen

    (University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, Department of Physical Chemistry
    Hainan University, State Key Laboratory of Tropic Ocean Engineering Materials and Materials Evaluation)

Abstract

Electrostatic dielectric capacitors with high power density are the fundamental energy storage components in advanced electronic and electric power systems. However, simultaneously achieving ultrahigh energy density and efficiency poses a persistent challenge, preventing the capacitive applications towards miniaturization and low-energy consumption. Here we demonstrate giant energy storage properties in lead-free antiferroelectrics by designing hierarchical heterostructures to optimize polarization evolution paths. Through the design of antiferroelectric nanoclusters featuring interlocked polarization structure and fishbone polarization configuration, alongside order-disorder oxygen octahedral tilts, we increase polarization fluctuation and delay polarization saturation with nearly eliminated hysteresis under ultrahigh external electric fields. Leveraging this strategy, we achieve an ultrahigh energy density of 21.0 J cm-3 with an impressive efficiency of 90% in sodium niobate-based ceramics, underscoring the great potential of this methodology for designing high-performance dielectrics and other functional materials.

Suggested Citation

  • Liang Chen & Tengfei Hu & He Qi & Huifen Yu & Zhengqian Fu & Shujun Zhang & Jun Chen, 2025. "Design of hierarchical-heterostructure antiferroelectrics for ultrahigh capacitive energy storage," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-65694-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65694-z
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