Due to its lead-free composition and a unique double polarization hysteresis loop with a large maximum polarization (P max ) and a small remnant polarization (P r ), AgNbO 3 -based antiferroelectrics (AFEs) have attracted extensive research interest for electric energy storage applications. However, a low dielectric breakdown field (E b ) limits an energy density and its further development. In this work, a highly efficient method was proposed to fabricate high-energy-density Ag(Nb,Ta)O 3 capacitor films on Si substrates, using a two-step process combining radio frequency (RF)-magnetron sputtering at 450 ℃ and post-deposition rapid thermal annealing (RTA). The RTA process at 700 ℃ led to sufficient crystallization of nanograins in the film, hindering their lateral growth by employing short annealing time of 5 min. The obtained Ag(Nb,Ta)O 3 films showed an average grain size (D) of ~14 nm (obtained by Debye-Scherrer formula) and a slender room temperature (RT) polarization-electric field (P-E) loop (P r ≈ 3.8 C•cm −2 and P max ≈ 38 C•cm −2 under an electric field of ~3.3 MV•cm −1 ), the P-E loop corresponding to a high recoverable energy density (W rec ) of ~46.4 J•cm −3 and an energy efficiency (η) of ~80.3%. Additionally, by analyzing temperature-dependent dielectric property of the film, a significant downshift of the diffused phase transition temperature (T M2-M3 ) was revealed, which indicated the existence of a stable relaxor-like † Hongbo Cheng and Xiao Zhai contributed equally to this work.

Starch is a kind of natural polymer, which is the main energy source for human body and important industrial raw materials.As a new non-thermal processing technology, ultrasonic has the advantages of green energy-saving, safety, high efficiency and convenient application. It plays an important role in starch modification process. In this paper, the effects of ultrasound on the multi-scale structure and physicochemical properties of starch were reviewed. The application of ultrasonic synergistic modification in starch modification was also analyzed, which is expected to provide some reference for the green modification of starch and its industrial production and application.

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