Abstract
A sol-gel method is employed for preparing high quality lead-free glass-ceramic samples (1 - x)BCZT-xBBS-incorporating Ba(0.85)Ca(0.15)Zr(0.1)Ti(0.9)O(3) (BCZT) powder and Bi(2)O(3)-B(2)O(3)-SiO(2) (BBS) glass-doped additives with different values of x (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15). Systematic investigations are performed to comprehend the structural, dielectric and energy storage characteristics using X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, impedance and ferroelectric analyser methods. With appropriate BBS doping (x), many fundamental traits including breakdown strength, dielectric loss and energy storage density have shown significant improvements. Low doping-level samples x < 0.1 have retained the pure perovskite phase while a second glass phase appeared in samples with x ≥ 0.1. As the doping level (0.1 ≥ x > 0) is increased, the average grain size decreased to become better homogeneous materials with improved breakdown energy strengths. Excessive addition of BBS (x = 0.15) causes negative effects on microstructures and other traits. The glass-ceramic sample 0.95BCZT-0.05BBS exhibits excellent dielectric permittivity and temperature stability, with the highest energy storage density of 0.3907 J cm(-3) at 130 kV cm(-1). These results provide good reference to develop lead-free ceramics of high energy storage density.