Observation of hybrid solid solution and superior energy storage in 0.8Ba(Zr0.35Ti0.65)O3-0.2ZnO films

Unusual substitutional and interstitial solid solutions were observed in (1−x)Ba(Zr0.35Ti0.65)O3-xZnO thin films, where one Zn2+ cation substituted one B-site Zr4+/Ti4+ site and two Zn2+ cations substituted one A-site Ba2+ site simultaneously. Such a hybrid solid solution with an appropriate ZnO content remarkably increases both the electric breakdown strength (Eb) by widening the bandgap and the energy storage efficiency (η) by suppressing the hysteresis of the ferroelectric loop. As a result, the films with x = 0.2 show superior energy storage performance with a recoverable energy storage density (Wrec) of 130.3 J/cm3 and η of 89.1%. This work confirms the feasibility of forming an unconventional hybrid solid solution, which may shed light on further work on perovskite oxides with improved ferroic functionalities.