Ultrahigh dielectric constant induced by the interfacial polarization between liquid crystal droplets and polymer matrix

Abstract

Polymer composites mixed with high dielectric constant nanofillers are thought of as excellent candidates of high-performance dielectrics for electrostatic energy storage. In this contribution, we report a new kind of all-organic composites composed of liquid crystal (LC) 5CB and polymer PMMA. They present an ultrahigh dielectric constant of above 103 at high-temperature/low-frequency conditions, attributed to the effect of Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars polarizations proportional to the LC/polymer interface area. Moreover, adding a negligible amount (0.2 vol%) of BaTiO3 nanoparticles into composites for better 5CB-domain dispersion, we realize a further enhancement of dielectric constant at the same measurement conditions as the expectation.