Stress-induced tailoring of phase boundaries and energy storage properties in lead-free antiferroelectric AgNbO3

Lead-free antiferroelectric (AFE) materials have shown promising energy storage properties that can surpass the currently used PbZrO3-based antiferroelectrics. But while the high energy density of AgNbO3 bulk ceramics is comparable to that of lead-based AFE, its full potential of energy storage performance and working-temperature range has not yet been realized, primarily due to the lack of understanding of phase stability under external perturbation. The effect of mechanical stress on the temperature-dependent AFE phase boundaries. Investigating this relationship is crucial to implement lead-free AFE materials into applications by improving the working temperature range of AgNbO3-based capacitors. Therefore, we propose an in situ mechanical stress and temperature-dependent investigation of AgNbO3 crystal structure to reveal the effect of bias stress on the AFE phase stability and thus allow the use of bias stress to modify the AFE phase stability of other material systems.