Enhanced dielectric properties of acrylic resin elastomer (AE)-based percolative composite with modified MXene

Abstract

Excellent dielectric properties are essential for electromechanical applications of dielectric elastomer. This work confirms that acrylic resin elastomer (AE)-based percolative composites using MXene (Ti3C2Tx) nanosheets modified with PANI (referred to as PANI-Ti3C2Tx) as conductive fillers exhibit improved dielectric performances. Ti3C2Tx/AE and PANI-Ti3C2Tx/AE composites with different filler contents were prepared, and their percolation threshold are 6.01 vol% and 6.43 vol%, respectively. The dielectric constant of 6.39 vol% PANI-Ti3C2Tx/AE is 298 at 100 Hz, which 1.67 times that of 5.98 vol% Ti3C2Tx/AE composites (178), and is 85 times that of the pure AE matrix (3.5). Moreover, the dielectric loss of 6.39 vol% PANI-Ti3C2Tx/AE composite still maintains at a low level (0.29 at 100 Hz), which is lower than that of 5.98 vol% Ti3C2Tx/AE composite (0.55 at 100 Hz). We suppose that the improved dielectric constant of PANI-Ti3C2Tx/AE composites is attributed to the enhanced micro capacitors effect and Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars effect.