Topological structure enhanced nanostructure of high temperature polymer exhibiting more than ten times enhancement of dipolar response

Abstract

Nanofillers in polymer composites will induce interface regions in the polymer with non-uniform nanostructures which can be approximated as multilayer shells surrounding nanofillers. This paper studies topological nanostructures in polymers that interface with one-dimensional (1-D) and zero-dimensional (0-D) nanofillers. This new class of dielectric polymer nanocomposites involves nanofillers at ultra-low volume loading (< 1 vol percent) that generate large dielectric enhancement. The results show that the dipolar response of polyetherimide, a high temperature dielectric polymer, is increased by more than ten times with ultra-low (0.75 vol%) loading of 1-D nanofillers. The results reveal that 1-D nanofillers induce cylindrical shell-topology in the polymer matrix which is more effective in enhancing the high dielectric constant interfacial region than the spherical shell-topology generated by 0-D fillers. The cylindrical shells generated by 1-D fillers provide much higher dielectric enhancement over a broader interfacial region in the polymer matrix, as compared to the spherical shells induced by 0-D nanofillers. • Giant permittivity with low loss at a broad temperature range is achieved by nanocomposites with ultra-low filler loadings. • Enhancing the permittivity of the polymer nanocomposites via strengthening intrinsic dipolar response of the polymer matrix. • Dielectric response of polymer matrix can be modulated via building the topological nanostructures by dilute 1D nanofiller.