“ μ s P-E curve” and reverse phase transition of antiferroelectric ceramics during ultra-fast charge–discharge

Antiferroelectric materials hold great potential for energy storage applications. However, a significant challenge lies in the disparity ΔW between the rapid discharge energy density Wdis and the recoverable energy density Wre. Quantitative analysis is still lacking, and the ultra-fast reverse ferroelectric–antiferroelectric (FE–AFE) transition behavior at the microsecond scale remains unknown. In this study, a pulse technique was employed instead of the Sawyer–Tower method to obtain the “μs P-E loop” during rapid charge–discharge processes. The “μs P-E curve” clearly illustrates the distinct FE–AFE transition behavior during rapid discharge in comparison to low-frequency conditions. Under pulsed conditions, the FE–AFE transition field was observed to decrease, and even a “remanent polarization” was observed, leading to a reduction in discharge energy during fast discharge. Moreover, through the enhancement of relaxor behavior and the increased diffuseness of FE–AFE switching, the μs P-E loop tended to resemble that observed at low frequencies, thereby resulting in more efficient discharge performance. This study introduced a technique for investigating the ultra-fast FE–AFE transition. Furthermore, it unveiled the origin of ΔW and provided an effective method for achieving high discharge energy density.