Investigation on antiferroelectricity of Pb_0.97La_0.02(Hf_1−xTi_x)O₃ ceramics with low Ti content (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1)

PbHfO₃ was found with antiferroelectricity early and identical to PbZrO₃ in many aspects but much less attention was received. In the present work, the PbHfO₃-based ceramics with compositions of Pb_0.97La_0.02(Hf_1−xTi_x)O₃ (PLHT, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) were fabricated, and their antiferroelectricity was investigated. All the compositions have an initially antiferroelectric (AFE) phase and by introducing Ti content, the AFE phase is destabilized. Typical AFE-like double polarization-electric field (P–E) loop was observed in compositions with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.08. When x = 0.10, the composition is initially AFE but remains ferroelectric (FE) phase after the removal of the external electric field, resulting in an FE-like single P–E loop. The temperature dependence of phase transition and multiple phase transition behavior in PLHT was also studied. This work revealed the antiferroelectricity in PLHT with low Ti content. In addition, the potential application of PLHT for energy storage and conversion was also discussed. A recoverable energy density of 7.1 J/cm³ and efficiency of 78.5% were achieved in Pb_0.97La_0.02HfO₃ at 300 kV/cm.