Self-assembly of anisotropic nano-sheets to impede charge injection into polymer dielectrics

Abstract

Flexible polymer dielectrics that can withstand electric extremes are the key components of advanced electrical and electronic systems. However, the topological disorder of organic polymers leads to defect formation at the interface between polymer dielectrics and metal electrodes, which undermines the electrical breakdown strength. Here we introduce the self-assembly of anisotropic montmorillonite (MMT) nanosheets on the surface of polystyrene (PS) films to form a highly ordered inorganic buffer layer between the dielectric and metal. The high-resolution space charge distribution and high-field pre-breakdown conduction demonstrate that the revived Schottky barrier formed through the functional layer effectively suppresses the injection of charge carriers into the film, imparting PS films with a significant improvement in breakdown strength (+42%) and charge–discharge efficiency (35% to 95%). This work thus opens a new avenue for elevating the high field endurance of all-organic polymer films by establishing a buffer layer through one-step facile solution-based processing.