Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 16, 2026

Measuring Magnetically-Tuned Ferroelectric Polarization in Liquid Crystals
Published on: August 15, 2018
Field-Gradient-Driven Molecular Polarization and Trap-State Modulation in Cross-Linked Polyethylene Dielectrics
Ke Li1, Lu-Ming Zhou2, Yun-Xiao Zhang3
1State Key Laboratory of Power System and Generation Equipment, Department of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China.
Abstract:
Electrical failure of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation originates from microdefects with strongly intensified local fields. Here we establish a dielectrophoresis-guided molecular targeting strategy that directs anthraquinone (AQ) toward these high-field regions. The field-gradient-driven migration of AQ leads to localized deep-trap formation, efficient carrier capture, and suppression of field distortion. At an optimal 1 wt % loading, AQ enhances the direct current breakdown strength of XLPE by 44%, reduces conductivity, and regulates trap states, while maintaining processability. These results reveal a coupled mechanism of field-driven molecular redistribution and trap-state regulation, providing new insight into the dynamic charge-field interactions that govern electrical reliability in polymer dielectrics, and establishing a generalizable mechanism for defect-level stabilization via dielectrophoretic targeting.
Related Concept Videos
Dielectric Polarization in a Capacitor
Potential Due to a Polarized Object
Electrostatic Boundary Conditions in Dielectrics
Consider a case where both the mediums across a boundary are two different dielectric materials. Recall that the electric field and electric displacement are proportional and related through the material's permittivity....
Induced Electric Dipoles
Since the absolute value of potential energy holds no physical meaning, its zero value can be chosen as per...
Molecular Shape and Polarity
π Electron Effects on Chemical Shift: Overview

