Structure, Ferroelectric, Dielectric and Energy Storage Studies of Ba_0.70Ca_0.30TiO₃, Ba(Zr_0.20Ti_0.80)O₃ Ceramic Capacitors

Abstract

Ba0.70Ca0.30TiO3-(BCT),Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3-(BZT) ceramics were fabricated by conventional mixed oxide route to develop inorganic dielectric materials suitable for use as an insulator with high dielectric constant and low energy loss for capacitor applications. The structural phase transition, ferroelectric, dielectric and energy storage properties of BCT, BZT ceramic capacitors were investigated. Room temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns revealed prominent peaks corresponding to tetragonal perovskite crystal structure for both BCT, BZT solid solutions. Slim ferroelectric hysteresis (P-E) loops were observed for BCT, BZT solid solutions. Temperature dependent dielectric property measurements of BCT, BZT solid solutions have shown a high dielectric constant and low dielectric loss. Room temperature (300K) breakdown field strength and energy densities were obtained from the integral area of P-E loops. For the BCT ceramics, the largest recoverable energy (unreleased energy) density is 1.41 J/cm3 with dielectric breakdown strength as high as 150 kV/cm. For the BZT ceramics, the largest recoverable energy (unreleased energy) density is 0.71 J/cm3 with dielectric breakdown strength as high as 150 kV/cm. Bulk BCT, BZT ceramics have shown interesting energy densities; these might be the strong candidate materials for capacitor applications.