A high-ε polymer based composite with lower inorganic content (≤10 vol%) has been fabricated using BaTiO3 nanowires as fillers.

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In this letter, we propose an effective route to obtain large recoverable strain, purely electrostrictive effects and high energy-storage density by inducing defect dipoles into Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 (NBT)-based relaxor ferroelectrics. It has been found that pinched and double polarization hysteresis loops with high maximum polarization (Pmax) and negligible remanent polarization (Pr) can be observed due to the presence of acceptor-induced defect dipoles. A large recoverable strain of 0.24% with very little hysteresis and high electrostriction coefficient of 0.022 m4 C2 with purely electrostrictive characteristics were acquired when 11 mol. ‰ Mn-doped. Meanwhile, a high recoverable energy density of 1.06 J/cm3 with excellent temperature stability was obtained at the same composition owing to the enlarged value of Pmax-Pr (36.8 μC/cm2) and relatively high electric field (95 kV/cm). Our achievement can open up the exciting opportunities for ferroelectric materials in high-precision positioning devices and high electric power pulse energy storage applications.

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Using the component materials barium titanate (BaTiO3, BT), strontium titanate (SrTiO3, ST), and sodium bismuth titanate [(Na1/2Bi1/2)TiO3, NBT], anti‐ferroelectric lead‐free ceramics of (1−x)[0.94NBT–0.06BT]–xST have been fabricated using conventional techniques. The microstructure, electrical properties, and energy‐storage performance of the obtained ceramics were investigated in detail. It was determined that the addition of ST can enhance the difference between the maximum polarization (Pmax) and remnant polarization (Pr), resulting in the improvement of the energy‐storage properties. The maximum recoverable energy density of 0.98 J cm−3 with a relatively high efficiency of 82 % was achieved under 90 kV cm−1 at x=0.30, which also displayed excellent energy‐storage stability in the temperature range from room temperature to 120 °C.

One-dimensional mesoporous TiO2-Bi2WO6 hollow superstructures are prepared using a hydrothermal method and their photocatalysis and recycle properties are investigated. Experimental results indicate that anatase TiO2 nanoparticles are coupled with hierarchical Bi2WO6 hollow tubes on their surfaces. The TiO2-Bi2WO6 structure has a mesoporous wall and the pores in the wall are on average 21 nm. The hierarchical TiO2-Bi2WO6 heterostructures exhibit the highest photocatalytic activity in comparison with P25, pure Bi2WO6 hollow tube and mechanical mixture of Bi2WO6 tube and TiO2 nanoparticle in the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under simulated sunlight irradiation. The as-prepared TiO2-Bi2WO6 heterostructures can be easily recycled through sedimentation and they retains their high photocatalytic activity during the cycling use in the simulated sunlight-driving photodegradation process of RhB. The prepared mesoporous TiO2-Bi2WO6 with hollow superstructure is therefore a promising candidate material for water decontamination use.

A binary solid solution of Er3+-doped (1 – x)­Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3–xK0.5Na0.5NbO3 (x = 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.10, 0.12) ferroelectric ceramics has been developed, and a reversible photochromic (PC) reaction and its associated luminescence modulation are realized via alternating the 405 nm light irradiation and thermal stimulation (200 °C). The basic crystal structure, domain structure, ferroelectricity, and dielectric behavior of the ceramics were measured. A moderate luminescence contrast ΔR t over 50% is obtained in the fresh samples. Meanwhile, a greatly enhanced luminescence contrast ΔR t is obtained via an electric poling for compositions x = 0.02, 0.04, 0.06. For example, ΔR t is promoted from 53.4 to 85.3% for x = 0.02. However, the luminescence contrast ΔR t of compositions x = 0.08, 0.10, 0.12 is depressed after poling. The mechanisms of enhanced PC reaction and luminescence contrast ΔR t are discussed and proposed. The present study may open a window for enhancing the PC reaction.

The antiferroelectric/ferroelectric (PbZrO 3 /PbZr 0.52 Ti 0.48 O 3 ) bilayer thin films were fabricated on a Pt(111)/Ti/SiO 2 /Si substrate using sol-gel method. PbZr 0.52 Ti 0.48 O 3 layer acts as a buffered layer and template for the crystallization of PbZrO 3 layer. The PbZrO 3 layer with improved quality can share the external voltage due to its smaller dielectric constant and thinner thickness, resulting in the enhancements of electric field strength and energy storage density for the PbZrO 3 / PbZr 0.52 Ti 0.48 O 3 bilayer thin film. The greatly improved electric breakdown strength value of 2615 kV/cm has been obtained, which is more than twice the value of individual PbZr 0.52 Ti 0.48 O 3 film. The enhanced energy storage density of 28.2 J/cm 3 at 2410 kV/cm has been achieved in PbZrO 3 /PbZr 0.52 Ti 0.48 O 3 bilayer film at 20°C, which is higher than that of individual PbZr 0.52 Ti 0.48 O 3 film (15.6 J/cm 3 ). Meanwhile, the energy storage density and efficiency of PbZrO 3 / PbZr 0.52 Ti 0.48 O 3 bilayer film increase slightly with the increasing temperature from 20°C to 120°C. Our results indicate that the design of antiferroelectric/ferroelectric bilayer films may be an effective way for developing high power energy storage density capacitors with high-temperature stability.