Single-step self-assembly of multilayer graphene based dielectric nanostructures

Abstract

We present high performance multilayer organic/inorganic nanostructured dielectric films including well dispersed chemically modified graphene (CMG) charge polarization layers based on single step solution self-assembly. Multilayer film structures of alternating aluminosilicate and amphiphilic block copolymer (BCP) lamellar layers intercalated with CMG in the hydrophilic aluminosilicate domains are prepared by simple solution casting process. The resultant composite dielectric film attains a high dielectric constant (∼30) along with low dielectric loss (<0.3). The increase of dielectric constant originates from the space charge polarization effect by high aspect ratio CMG, which is also precisely adjustable with the CMG composition in the composite films. Significantly, the dielectric loss rarely increased even with the injection of a large amount of conductive CMG fillers, as CMG plates are exclusively distributed in the hydrophilic lamellar domains without forming conductive connection in the film normal direction across hydrophobic domains. The composite dielectric film also demonstrates mechanically flexible and highly stable features while deposited on conventional flexible PEN substrates.