Enabling High-Energy-Density High-Efficiency Ferroelectric Polymer Nanocomposites with Rationally Designed Nanofillers

Ferroelectric polymers have been regarded as the preferred matrix for high-energy-density dielectric polymer nanocomposites because of their highest dielectric constants among the known polymers. Despite a library of ferroelectric polymer-based composites having been demonstrated as highly efficient in enhancing the energy density, the charge-discharge efficiency remains moderate because of the high intrinsic loss of ferroelectric polymers. Herein, a systematic study of the oxide nanofillers is presented with varied dielectric constants and the vital role of the dielectric match between the filler and the polymer matrix on the capacitive performance of the ferroelectric polymer composites is revealed. A combined experimental and simulation study is further performed to specifically investigate the effect of the nanofiller morphology on the electrica properties of the polymer nanocomposites. The solution-processed ferroelectric polymer nanocomposite embedded with Al2O3 nanoplates exhibits markedly improved breakdown strength and discharged energy density along with an exceptional charge-discharge efficiency of 83.4% at 700 MV m(-1), which outperforms the ferroelectric polymers and nanocomposites reported to date. This work establishes a facile approach to high-performance ferroelectric polymer composites through capitalizing on the synergistic effect of the dielectric properties and morphology of the oxide fillers.