Local Structural Perturbations Inducing High Energy Density in BiFeO₃-Based Ceramics

Lead-free BiFeO₃-based ceramics have emerged as compelling candidates for high-power energy storage applications, owing to their exceptional combination of high Curie temperature and large spontaneous polarization. However, their widespread adoption has been hindered by intrinsic limitations including low breakdown strength and substantial hysteresis losses. Herein, we propose a strategy of local structural perturbations that significantly enhances the energy storage performance of BiFeO₃-based ceramics through the introduction of (Bi_2/9La_2/9Sm_2/9)ZrO₃ (BLSZ). This approach effectively suppresses hysteresis loss and delays polarization saturation by reducing polarization anisotropy and domain-switching barriers, while simultaneously enhancing breakdown strength through highly disordered atomic arrangements with localized lattice distortion and grain refinement. Consequently, the optimized BiFeO₃-based ceramic delivers a high energy density of 7.4 J cm^-3, surpassing most previously reported BiFeO₃-based dielectrics. This study highlights the significant potential of BiFeO₃-based ceramics for advanced energy storage while providing crucial design guidelines for high-performance dielectric materials.