Significantly Enhanced Energy Density of Polyvinylidene Fluoride/Polyimide-Based Nanocomposites by Core-Shell BaTiO3@SiO2

Improving the limited energy storage capacity of dielectric materials has long been an attractive challenge. In this work, a four-phase hybridized nanocomposite was designed. The linear polymer polyimide (PI) was added to the ferroelectric polymer polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and compounded with a nanoceramic BT@SiO2 with a core-shell structure. The results show that PVDF-PI/BT@SiO2 nanocomposites prepared by a straightforward spin-coating method have a significantly increased discharge energy density. The polymer blends obtain a tightly extended conformation in the amorphous region. Also, this provides an excellent matrix environment for the homogeneous dispersion of fillers. The core-shell structure, as a physical barrier, not only hinders the expansion of the breakdown path but also extends multiple polarization surfaces with gradient variations at the microscopic level. Therefore, the synergistic effect generated by polymer blending and core-shell structure effectively enhances the dielectric and stored energy characteristics of nanocomposites. The dielectric constant is stable at 11.39-18.7, and the dielectric loss is always lower than 0.136. The discharge energy density is 2.5 J/cm3, almost 110% higher than that of the BOPP films (about 1.2 J/cm3). These experimental results suggest that the composite system using core-shell structure and polymer blending is a new way to improve the energy density of dielectric materials.

Influence of Matrix and Surfactant on Piezoelectric and Dielectric Properties of Screen-Printed BaTiO3/PVDF Composites

The aim of this paper was to provide insight into the impact of matrix and surfactants on the rheology, morphology, and dielectric and piezoelectric properties of screen-printed BaTiO3/PVDF composites. Two matrices were compared (PVDF-HFP and PVDF-TrFE), and lead-free BaTiO3 microparticles were added in volume fractions of 30% and 60%. Here, we demonstrated that the presence of surfactants, helping to prevent phase separation, was crucial for achieving a decent screen-printing process. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy together with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the two "fluoro-benzoic acid" surfactants established stable bonds with BaTiO3 and improved the dispersion homogeneity, while the "fluoro-silane" proved to be ineffective due to it evaporating during the functionalization process. PVDF-TrFE composites featured a more homogeneous composite layer, with fewer flaws and lower roughness, as compared with PVDF-HFP composites, and their inks were characterized by a higher viscosity. The samples were polarized in either AC or DC mode, at two different temperatures (25 °C and 80 °C). The 30% BaTiO3 PVDF-TrFE composites with two fluorinated surfactants featured a higher value of permittivity. The choice of the surfactant did not affect the permittivity of the PVDF-HFP composites. Concerning the d33 piezoelectric coefficient, experimental results pointed out that PVDF-TrFE matrices made it possible to obtain higher values, and that the best results were achieved in the absence of surfactants (or by employing the fluoro-silane). For instance, in the composites with 60% BaTiO3 and polarized at 80 °C, a d33 of 7-8 pC/N was measured, which is higher than the values reported in the literature.

Recent developments in the synthesis of chemically modified nanomaterials for use in dielectric and electronics applications

Polymer nanocomposites (PNC) have attracted enormous scientific and technological interest due to their applications in energy storage, electronics, biosensing, drug delivery, cosmetics and packaging industry. Nanomaterials (platelet, fibers, spheroids, whiskers, rods) dispersed in different types of polymer matrices constitute such PNC. The degree of dispersion of the inorganic nanomaterials in the polymer matrix, as well as the structured arrangement of the nanomaterials, are some of the key factors influencing the overall performance of the nanocomposite. To this end, the surface functionalization of the nanomaterials determines its state of dispersion within the polymer matrix. For energy storage and electronics, these nanomaterials are usually chosen for their dielectric properties for enhancing the performance of device applications. Although several reviews on surface modification of nanomaterials have been reported, a review on the surface functionalization of nanomaterials as it pertains to polymer dielectrics is currently lacking. This review summarizes the recent developments in the surface modification of important metal oxide dielectric nanomaterials including Silicon dioxide (SiO₂), titanium dioxide (TiO₂), barium titanate (BaTiO₃), and aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) by chemical agents such as silanes, phosphonic acids, and dopamine. We report the impact of chemical modification of the nanomaterial on the dielectric performance (dielectric constant, breakdown strength, and energy density) of the nanocomposite. Aside from bringing novice and experts up to speed in the area of polymer dielectric nanocomposites, this review will serve as an intellectual resource in the selection of appropriate chemical agents for functionalizing nanomaterials for use in specific polymer matrix so as to potentially tune the final performance of nanocomposite.

Particle size effect of BaTiO3 nanofillers on the energy storage performance of polymer nanocomposites

Polymer nanocomposites are a promising substitute for energy-storage dielectric materials in pulsed power systems. A barium titanate/polyvinylidenefluoride (BT/PVDF) nanocomposite is one of the most widely studied composite systems due to its comprehensive excellent dielectric properties. As the dielectric response of nanocomposites depends strongly on the size of the fillers, in this study, BT/PVDF nanocomposites with 92.3 nm, 17.8 nm and 5.9 nm BT particle fillers are fabricated to reveal the particle size effect of the fillers on the energy storage performance of the polymer nanocomposites. Owing to the small particle size and good dispersibility of the nanofillers, the nanocomposites with smaller BT particles show more uniform and denser microstructures. Moreover, with the increase of the filler fraction, the dielectric results indicate a breakdown strength enhancement in the nanocomposites with sub-20 nm BT fillers, which is quite different from the nanocomposites with normal fillers, and therefore leads to superior energy storage performance. This study provides experimental evidence for the application of ultrafine nanofillers in the nanocomposite for future energy storage systems.

Interface structure, precursor rheology and dielectric properties of BaTiO3/PVDF–hfp nanocomposite films prepared from colloidal perovskite nanoparticles

A novel and greatly simplified strategy was developed to fabricate high-permittivity dielectric nanocomposites. Interface structure, precursor rheology and dielectric properties of the 0–3 BaTiO₃/PVDF–hfp nanocomposite film were investigated.

Piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties of BNT-base ternary lead-free ceramic–polymer nanocomposites under different poling conditions

Aggregated charges on the polymer phase interface (a) when the electric field E = 0, (b) after E is applied and (c) piezoelectric particle polarization increases when the charges are further injected in the direction of the piezoelectric particles (c).

Enhancement of dielectric properties and energy storage density in poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) by relaxor ferroelectric ceramics

The dielectric properties and energy storage density of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) were enhanced by the surface-functionalized relaxor ferroelectric ceramic Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃–PbTiO₃.

Remarkable enhancement of mechanical and dielectric properties of flexible ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM)/ barium titanate (BaTiO3) dielectric elastomer by chemical modification of particles

Just 1 wt% SG-Si6490 can raise tensile strength of EPDM with untreated BaTiO₃ from 1.94 to 9.00 MPa. (A) EPDM control; (B) untreated BaTiO₃; (C) NDZ109 treated BaTiO₃; (D) KH570 treated BaTiO₃; (E) SG-Si6490 treated BaTiO₃.