access icon openaccess Structure design boosts concomitant enhancement of permittivity, breakdown strength, discharged energy density and efficiency in all-organic dielectrics

This is an open access article published by the IET under the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
Received 12/08/2020, Accepted 17/09/2020, Revised 10/09/2020, Published 24/09/2020

Polymer-based nanocomposites with excellent flexibility and intrinsic high breakdown strength are promising candidates for high energy density capacitors compared to ceramics counterparts. However, their energy density is relatively low due to the trade-off between permittivity and breakdown strength. In this work, the authors proposed a ferroconcrete-like structure for all-organic nanocomposites via combinatorial electrospinning and hot-pressing method. In this structure, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) serves as matrix while poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (P(VDF-HFP)) serves as reinforcement phase. This novel structure is highly effective in breaking the paradox of improved discharged energy density with decreased efficiency, as evidenced by the concurrently improved discharged energy density (∼12.15 J/cm3 compared to 8.82 J/cm3 of the matrix) and efficiency (∼81.7% compared to 76.8% of the matrix). Compared to conventional blending composite films, samples with ferroconcrete-like structure exhibit higher permittivity, breakdown strength, discharged energy density and efficiency. The superior energy storage performance is attributed to large aspect ratio P(VDF-HFP) fibres distributed perpendicularly to the external field, which brings about the extra enhancement of permittivity. Besides, mechanical properties are improved and restriction on carrier motion is facilitated, leading to enhanced breakdown strength and suppressed conduction. This work provides a new way to design dielectric composite for high energy density and efficiency applications.

Inspec keywords: polymer fibres; permittivity; electric breakdown; filled polymers; polymer blends; nanofabrication; nanocomposites; hot pressing; electrospinning; electrical conductivity

Other keywords: polymethyl methacrylate; hot-pressing method; poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene); high energy density capacitors; intrinsic high breakdown strength; all-organic nanocomposites; reinforcement phase; carrier motion; ferroconcrete-like structure; polymer-based nanocomposites; dielectric composite; all-organic dielectrics; permittivity; external field; large aspect ratio P(VDF-HFP) fibres; combinatorial electrospinning; mechanical properties; efficiency applications; discharged energy density; electrical conduction; enhanced breakdown strength; energy storage performance

Subjects: Preparation of reinforced polymers and polymer-based composites; Other methods of nanofabrication; Low-dimensional structures: growth, structure and nonelectronic properties; Electrical properties of composite materials (thin films, low-dimensional and nanoscale structures); Powder techniques, compaction and sintering; Dielectric permittivity; Dielectric breakdown and space-charge effects; Structure of solid clusters, nanoparticles, nanotubes and nanostructured materials

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