Polymer Dielectrics With Interwoven Aromatic and Aliphatic Chains for High-temperature Capacitive Energy Storage

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Polymers are crucial for dielectric capacitors, but high temperatures cause conduction losses due to aromatic structures.
• Existing high-temperature polymers face performance limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a high-performance dielectric polymer overcoming thermal and electrical challenges.
• To mitigate conduction losses in polymers at elevated temperatures.

Main Methods:

• Designed a cross-linked polymer with interwoven aromatic and aliphatic chains.
• Utilized polystyrene-maleic anhydride to introduce aliphatic segments.
• Investigated the effect of chain structure on interchain spacing and charge transport.

Main Results:

• The interwoven structure reduced interchain spacing and alleviated free volume effects.
• Aliphatic chains intercepted free charges, decreasing conduction losses.
• Achieved discharged energy densities of 7.24 J/cm³ at 150°C and 5.28 J/cm³ at 200°C.
• Maintained charge-discharge efficiency above 90% at high temperatures.

Conclusions:

• The cross-linked polymer design offers a scalable and cost-effective strategy for high-performance dielectric materials.
• This approach shows significant promise for practical applications in pulse systems and renewable energy.
• The interwoven aromatic-aliphatic structure effectively enhances dielectric capacitor performance under extreme conditions.