Insight into structural, mechanical, dielectric relaxation, and ferroelectric properties of (1-x)KNN-xCT ceramics for energy storage applications
摘要
The structural, mechanical, optical, dielectric, modulus, and ferroelectric characteristics of (1-x)KNN-xCT ceramics, where x denotes the CaTiO3 (CT) concentration in the lead-free potassium sodium niobate (K0.5Na0.5NbO3, KNN) matrix, were systematically examined. These ceramics were fabricated through a solid-state reaction technique and sintered at 1100 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed a phase transition from orthorhombic to tetragonal as the CT concentration increased. The lattice parameters and crystallite sizes varied with CT concentration, indicating a significant influence on the crystal structure. Mechanical properties, including hardness, were examined through the Vicker’s hardness test. Results showed increased hardness and stiffness with higher CT content, suggesting improved mechanical strength. Dielectric properties were evaluated using frequency-dependent impedance and dielectric constant measurements. The composition with x = 0.09 exhibited pronounced non-Debye dielectric relaxation behaviour and achieved the highest energy storage efficiency of 74.71%. This comprehensive analysis of the structural, mechanical, optical, dielectric relaxation and ferroelectric properties of (1-x)KNN-xCT ceramics underscores their potential for energy storage devices.