Enhanced energy storage properties of silver niobate ceramics under hydrostatic pressure.

• a way of external pressure to enhance energy storage properties of AgNbO 3 ceramics. • An η of 56% and W rec of 1.3 J/cm3 has been achieved in AgNbO 3 ceramics under 400 MPa. • Hydrostatic pressure results in an enhancement in η and W rec by 47% and 23%, respectively. Despite its low energy storage efficiency (∼46%), silver niobate (AgNbO 3) is considered as a promising lead-free antiferroelectric material due to its environmental advantages. Herein, we demonstrate that the energy storage efficiency of AgNbO 3 ceramics can be enhanced by applying hydrostatic pressure. The results reveal that the hydrostatic pressure contributed to the decline of remanent polarization (P r) and the switching hysteresis Δ E. In addition, the externally applied pressure improved the reverse switching field (E A). This indicates an enhanced antiferroelectricity, benefiting the enhancement of energy storage properties of AgNbO 3 ceramics. Under the pressure of 400 MPa, the as-prepared AgNbO 3 ceramics exhibited an energy storage efficiency (η) of 56% and a recoverable energy storage density (W rec) of 1.3 J/cm3 under the electric field of 13 kV/mm, corresponding to an enhancement of 47% and 30%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]