Electrical properties of AgNbO₃ thick films by aerosol deposition followed by post-annealing in oxygen atmosphere

Dielectric capacitors, distinguished by their exceptional power densities, make them suitable for unique applications that demand swift energy charging and discharging, as typified by pulse power utilities, power regulation, and vehicular systems. However, a notable limitation of dielectric capacitors is their relatively low recoverable energy density. In this study, we focused on the electrical and dielectric properties of silver niobate (AgNbO₃) anti-ferroelectric (AFE) ceramics—a lead-free alternative gaining traction in power electronics and energy storage devices. Considering the marked hysteresis loss characteristic of typical AgNbO₃ AFE ceramics, we developed an innovative aerosol deposition (AD) technique to overcome this limitation. Considering AgNbO₃ tends to generate oxygen vacancies during fabrication—a phenomenon known to significantly influence its electrical properties—annealing in a flowing oxygen atmosphere is deemed crucial. Notably, the AgNbO₃ thick film annealed at a temperature of 800 °C for 6 h exhibited ferroelectric-like behavior and enhanced dielectric breakdown strength (DBS) of 1100 kV/cm, surpassing the bulk ceramic benchmark by approximately five times.