Liquid metal interface mechanochemistry disentangles energy density and biaxial stretchability tradeoff in composite capacitor film

Dielectric polymer composites for film capacitors have advanced significantly in recent decades, yet their practical implementation in industrial-scale, thin-film processing faces challenges, particularly due to limited biaxial stretchability. Here, we introduce a mechanochemical solution that applies liquid metal onto rigid dielectric fillers (e.g. boron nitride), dramatically transforming polymer-filler interface characteristics. This approach significantly reduces modulus mismatch and stress concentration at the interface region, enabling polypropylene composites to achieve biaxial stretching ratio up to 450 × 450%. Furthermore, liquid metal integration enhances boron nitride's dielectric polarization while maintaining inherent insulation, producing high-dielectric-constant, low-loss films. These films, only microns thick yet quasi square meters in area, achieve a 55% increase in energy density over commercial biaxially-oriented polypropylene (from 2.9 to 4.5 J cm<sup>-3</sup> at 550 MV/m), keeping 90% discharge efficiency. Coupled with improved thermal conductivity, durability, and device capacitance, this distinctive interface engineering approach makes these composites promising for high-performance film capacitors.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nature Communications
Published
2024-09-06
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-52234-4
Citations
36
Primary Topic
Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
6.64

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article

Liquid metal interface mechanochemistry disentangles energy density and biaxial stretchability tradeoff in composite capacitor film

Jianan Zhu, Kai Wu, Zhengli Dou, Zilong Xie et al.
36 citations
Nature Communications
Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
6.64
article

Liquid metal interface mechanochemistry disentangles energy density and biaxial stretchability tradeoff in composite capacitor film

Jianan Zhu, Kai Wu, Zhengli Dou, Zilong Xie, Ke Wang, Qiang Fu, Yongzheng Zhang
article en
36 citations

Abstract

Dielectric polymer composites for film capacitors have advanced significantly in recent decades, yet their practical implementation in industrial-scale, thin-film processing faces challenges, particularly due to limited biaxial stretchability. Here, we introduce a mechanochemical solution that applies liquid metal onto rigid dielectric fillers (e.g. boron nitride), dramatically transforming polymer-filler interface characteristics. This approach significantly reduces modulus mismatch and stress concentration at the interface region, enabling polypropylene composites to achieve biaxial stretching ratio up to 450 × 450%. Furthermore, liquid metal integration enhances boron nitride's dielectric polarization while maintaining inherent insulation, producing high-dielectric-constant, low-loss films. These films, only microns thick yet quasi square meters in area, achieve a 55% increase in energy density over commercial biaxially-oriented polypropylene (from 2.9 to 4.5 J cm<sup>-3</sup> at 550 MV/m), keeping 90% discharge efficiency. Coupled with improved thermal conductivity, durability, and device capacitance, this distinctive interface engineering approach makes these composites promising for high-performance film capacitors.

Nature CommunicationsVol. 15(1)
Sichuan University (CN), Ingenierie des Materiaux polymeres (FR), The University of Texas at Austin (US)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 2%
Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
6.64
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