Ceramic-Based Dielectric Materials for Energy Storage Capacitor Applications

Abstract

Materials offering high energy density are currently desired to meet the increasing demand for energy storage applications, such as pulsed power devices, electric vehicles, high-frequency inverters, and so on. Particularly, ceramic-based dielectric materials have received significant attention for energy storage capacitor applications due to their outstanding properties of high power density, fast charge-discharge capabilities, and excellent temperature stability relative to batteries, electrochemical capacitors, and dielectric polymers. In this paper, we present fundamental concepts for energy storage in dielectrics, key parameters, and influence factors to enhance the energy storage performance, and we also summarize the recent progress of dielectrics, such as bulk ceramics (linear dielectrics, ferroelectrics, relaxor ferroelectrics, and anti-ferroelectrics), ceramic films, and multilayer ceramic capacitors. In addition, various strategies, such as chemical modification, grain refinement/microstructure, defect engineering, phase, local structure, domain evolution, layer thickness, stability, and electrical homogeneity, are focused on the structure-property relationship on the multiscale, which has been thoroughly addressed. Moreover, this review addresses the challenges and opportunities for future dielectric materials in energy storage capacitor applications. Overall, this review provides readers with a deeper understanding of the chemical composition, physical properties, and energy storage performance in this field of energy storage ceramic materials.

Keywords: breakdown strength; ceramic-based dielectric materials; energy efficiency; energy storage capacitors; polarization; recoverable energy density.

Figure 1

(a) Various applications of dielectric capacitors in power electronics and pulse power applications. (b) Comparison of the power density versus energy density of batteries, electrochemical capacitors, and dielectric capacitors.

Figure 2

Schematic diagram of (a) a dielectric capacitor, and (b) a dielectric between two conductive plates, where electric dipoles are displaced and oriented by the applied electric field due to polarization.

Figure 3

Schematic of the recoverable energy density and energy loss from the P-E hysteresis loop of a ceramic capacitor.

Figure 4

Schematic of the electric field-dependent polarization response and ferroelectric domain structures with dipole orientation for (a) LDs, (b) FEs, (c) AFEs, and (d) RFEs.

Figure 5

Schematic illustration of a defect dipole concept to achieve energy storage properties of Nd and Mn-co-doped Ba_0.7Sr_0.3TiO₃ ceramics. Defect dipoles between donor/acceptor ions and oxygen vacancies capture electrons, decrease grain size, and enable a high difference between P_max and P_r, thereby enhancing the BDS with Nd and Mn, which results in an improved W_rec and η in Ba_0.7Sr_0.3TiO₃ ceramics. Reproduced with permission [50]. Copyright 2023, MDPI.

Figure 6

(a) P-E loops and (b) W_st, W_re, and η of the (Pb_1−yLa_y)(Zr_xTi_1−x)O₃ ceramics for y = 0.07 and x = 0.82 to 0.92. (c) shows a SEM image for x = 0.9. Reproduced with permission [55]. Copyright 2019, Elsevier.

Figure 7

(a) P-E loops of Ag(Nb_1−xTa_x)O₃ ceramics for x = 0 and 0.15, (b) W_re and η, and (c) E_b and grain size of Ag(Nb_1−xTa_x)O₃ ceramics for x = 0 to 20. The inset of Figure 7c shows SEM images of Ag(Nb_1−xTa_x)O₃ ceramics for x = 0 and 0.20. Reproduced with permission [26]. Copyright 2017, Wiley-VCH.

Figure 8

(a) Schematic of the domain structure and formation of the FE to RFE transition with the incorporation of BST into BNKT, leading to improved W_rec and η (where the red arrows indicate the dipole orientation). (b) Temperature dependence of the relative dielectric permittivity and loss factor of 0.55BNKT-0.45BST composition. The inset of Figure 8b presents the $log\left(T-T_m\right)$ versus $log\left[\left(\raisebox{1ex}{$1$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{${\epsilon }_r$}\right.\right)-\left(\raisebox{1ex}{$1$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{${\epsilon }_r^m$}\right.\right)\right]$ of 0.55BNKT-0.45BST at 1 MHz. (c) P-E hysteresis loop of 0.55BNKT-0.45BST ceramics. (d) Composition versus W_rec, W_loss, and η for x = 0.15–0.50. Reproduced with permission [100]. Copyright 2023 MDPI.

Figure 9

(a) P-E loops and (b) W_rec and η values of 0.68 NN-0.32BLT ceramics at various fields. (c) P−E loops along with the current density versus electric field curve. Reproduced with permission [105]. Copyright 2021 John Wiley and Sons. (d) W_rec and η values of 0.76 NN-0.24BNT ceramics at various fields and measured at 10 Hz and RT. Reproduced with permission [65]. Copyright 2019 John Wiley and Sons.

Figure 10

Schematic diagram of the MLCC fabrication process.

Figure 11

(a) Polarization (blue curve) and current (red curve) response are a function of the electric field (the inset shows a picture of the bulk sample), (b) the temperature variation of relative dielectric permittivity and loss factor, and (c) $ln\left(T-T_{max}\right)$ versus $ln\left[\left(\raisebox{1ex}{$1$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{$\epsilon $}\right.\right)-\left(\raisebox{1ex}{$1$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{${\epsilon }_{max}$}\right.\right)\right]$ of 0.55(Bi_0.5Na_0.5)TiO₃-0.45(Bi_0.2Sr_0.7)TiO₃ ceramics. (d,e) A photograph and SEM image of MLCC of 0.55(Bi_0.5Na_0.5)TiO₃-0.45(Bi_0.2Sr_0.7)TiO₃. (f) Energy density and efficiency versus the applied electric field of 0.55(Bi_0.5Na_0.5)TiO₃-0.45(Bi_0.2Sr_0.7)TiO₃ MLCC. Reproduced with permission [5]. Copyright 2018, Wiley-VCH.