Multi-element addition to construct multiphase high-entropy glass-ceramics with ultra-high energy storage efficiency

One of the primary challenges associated with ceramic capacitors is their limited energy storage density and efficiency, which restricts their widespread application. In this study, we propose a strategy based on high-entropy glass and multi-phase crystallization method to modify glass-ceramics with enhanced energy storage performance. Theoretical and experimental investigations reveal that the high entropy strategy within the glass system achieves a new balance between material nucleation and crystallization. The inherent “sluggish diffusion effect” and "cocktail effect" of high-entropy materials address the longstanding issue of grain agglomeration during the crystallization of silicate glass. The coexistence of NaNbO₃, Ba₂Na(Nb₅O₁₅), and Ca₂Nb₂O₇ phases contributes to the performance optimization. Additionally, the reduction of grain size, the formation of multiphase structures, and the suppression of interface polarization collectively contributed to a higher breakdown strength (E_b), which enhanced the energy storage performance. Notably, a glass-ceramic sample with (x = 0.15) achieves a high theoretical energy storage density of 6.1 J/cm³, an ultra-high η of 99 %, and an ultra-fast discharge rate (t_0.9=24.8 ns). This work not only broadens the research scope of energy storage materials for high-field energy storage devices but also establishes a new paradigm for the development of high-performance high-entropy glass-ceramic materials.