Nanostructure Engineering Significantly Enhances Capacitive Energy Storage Performance in All-Polymer Dielectrics at...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• High-temperature electrostatic capacitors require advanced dielectric polymers.
• Existing materials face limitations in extreme thermal and electrical conditions.
• All-polymer nanodielectrics (PNDs) offer a promising alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the role of thermoset resins in high-temperature capacitive performance of PNDs.
• Explore how different bis-maleimide (BMI) monomers influence dielectric properties.
• Optimize PNDs for superior energy storage in demanding environments.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of PNDs using polymerization-induced microphase separation (PIMS) in thermoplastic/thermoset blends.
• Utilized polysulfone (PSU) as the matrix with two BMI monomers: BMP and BDM.
• Analyzed the impact of domain size and compatibility on charge trap density and electrical properties.

Main Results:

• PSU/BMP PNDs exhibited higher charge trap density compared to PSU/BDM and pristine PSU.
• Smaller BMP domains, due to enhanced PSU compatibility, led to increased trap density.
• PSU/BMP PNDs demonstrated reduced current density and superior capacitive energy storage at high temperatures.

Conclusions:

• Interfacial area is critical for high-temperature electrical properties in PNDs.
• Tailoring domain size and compatibility through monomer selection is key for performance.
• These findings guide the design of nanostructured PNDs for advanced high-temperature applications.