Giant energy storage density with ultrahigh efficiency in multilayer ceramic capacitors via interlaminar strain engineering

Dielectric capacitors with high energy storage performance are highly desired for advanced power electronic devices and systems. Even though strenuous efforts have been dedicated to closing the gap of energy storage density between the dielectric capacitors and the electrochemical capacitors/batteries, a single-minded pursuit of high energy density without a near-zero energy loss for ultrahigh energy efficiency as the grantee is in vain. Herein, for the purpose of decoupling the inherent conflicts between high polarization and low electric hysteresis (loss), and achieving high energy storage density and efficiency simultaneously in multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), we propose an interlaminar strain engineering strategy to modulate the domain structure and manipulate the polarization behavior of the dielectric mediums. With a heterogeneous layered structure consisting of different antiferroelectric ceramics [(Pb0.9Ba0.04La0.04)(Zr0.65Sn0.3Ti0.05)O3/(Pb0.95Ba0.02La0.02)(Zr0.6Sn0.4)O3/(Pb0.92Ca0.06La0.02)(Zr0.6Sn0.4)0.995O3], our MLCC exhibits a giant recoverable energy density of 22.0 J cm−3 with an ultrahigh energy efficiency of 96.1%. Combined with the favorable temperature and frequency stabilities and the high antifatigue property, this work provides a strain engineering paradigm for designing MLCCs for high-power energy storage and conversion systems. Dielectric materials with high energy storage performance are desirable for power electronic devices. Here, the authors achieve high energy density and efficiency simultaneously in multilayer ceramic capacitors with a strain engineering strategy.