Dielectric Breakdown Research Articles

Novel recyclable epoxy resin with releasable residual stress and synergistically enhanced dielectric properties and healing ability

It has been a challenge to improve the performance of epoxy insulation in the whole life cycle by achieving the reduction of residual stress during manufacturing, the healing of damages during application, and the recycling after decommissioning. In this paper, a novel recyclable epoxy resin (SEP) with releasable residual stress and synergistically enhanced dielectric properties and healing ability was successfully developed by introducing dynamic thiocarbamate bonds (DTBs). A reduction in residual stresses by 45 % was detected after SEP was annealed at 30 °C below the glassy transition temperature (Tg) for 8 h, during which the mechanical properties remained unchanged. Synergistically improved dielectric properties and damage-healing ability were also observed in SEP. A high healing efficiency of 94.4 % for electrical breakdown damage was found in SEP, meanwhile its dielectric properties were superior to commercial epoxy resin. Additionally, SEP featured good recyclability, including reprocessability and degradability. All those excellent properties were ascribed to the dissociation and recombination of DTBs triggered by thermal stimulation. This work provides an effective solution to a series of issues throughout the full lifecycle of epoxy materials.

Analysis of Insulation Breakdown in Slot End of Stator Windings of High Voltage Motor

Analysis of Insulation Breakdown in Slot End of Stator Windings of High Voltage Motor

Cooperative dynamic polaronic picture of diamond color centers

Polarons can control carrier mobility and can also be used in the design of quantum devices. Although much effort has been directed into investigating the nature of polarons, observation of defect-related polarons is challenging due to electron-defect scattering. Here we explore the polaronic behavior of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in a diamond crystal using an ultrafast pump-probe technique. A 10-fs optical pulse acts as a source of high electric field exceeding the dielectric breakdown threshold, in turn exerting a force on the NV charge distribution and polar optical phonons. The electronic and phononic responses are enhanced by an order of magnitude for a low density of NV centers, which we attribute to a combination of cooperative polaronic effects and scattering by defects. First-principles calculations support the presence of dipolar Fröhlich interaction via non-zero Born effective charges. Our findings provide insights into the physics of color centers in diamonds.

Investigation of Partial Discharge Transformation Characteristics in Polyimide (PI) Insulations under High-Frequency Electric Stress.

This research delves into the primary issue of polyimide (PI) insulation failures in high-frequency power transformers (HFPTs) by scrutinizing partial discharge development under high-frequency electrical stress. This study employs an experimental approach coupled with a plasma simulation model for a ball-sphere electrode structure. The simulation model integrates the particle transport equation, Poisson equation, and complex chemical reactions to ascertain microscopic parameters, including plasma distribution, electric field, electron density, electron temperature, surface, and space charge distribution. The effect of the voltage polarity and electrical energy on the PD process is also discussed. The contact point plays a pivotal role in triggering partial discharges and culminating in the breakdown of PI insulation. Asymmetry phenomena were found between positive and negative half-cycles by analyzing the PD data stage by stage. A significant number of PDs increased at every stage and the PD amplitude was higher during the negative cycle at the initial stage, but in later stages, the PD amplitude was found to be higher in the positive half-cycle, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the maximum damage occurred near the contact point junction. The simulation results show that the plasma initially accumulates the electron density near the contact point junction. Under the action of the electric field, plasma starts traveling at the PI surface outward from the contact point. Before the PD activity, all parameters have higher values in the plasma head. The microscopic parameters reveal maximum values near the contact point junction, during PD activities where significant damage takes place. These parameter distributions exhibit a decreasing trend over time as when the PD activity ends. The model's predictions are consistent with the experimental data. The paper lays the foundation for future research in polymer insulation design under high-frequency electrical stress.

Dipole Orientation Engineering in Crosslinking Polymer Blends for High-Temperature Energy Storage Applications.

Polymer dielectrics that perform efficiently under harsh electrification conditions are critical elements of advanced electronic and power systems. However, developing polymer dielectrics capable of reliably withstanding harsh temperatures and electric fields remains a fundamental challenge, requiring a delicate balance in dielectric constant (K), breakdown strength (Eb), and thermal parameters. Here, amide crosslinking networks into cyano polymers is introduced, forming asymmetric dipole pairs with differing dipole moments. This strategy weakens the original electrostatic interactions between dipoles, thereby reducing the dipole orientation barriers of cyano groups, achieving dipole activation while suppressing polarization losses. The resulting styrene-acrylonitrile/crosslinking styrene-maleic anhydride (SAN/CSMA) blends exhibit a K of 4.35 and an Eb of 670 MV m-1 simultaneously at 120°C, and ultrahigh discharged energy densities (Ue) with 90% efficiency of 8.6 and 7.4 J cm-3 at 120 and 150°C are achieved, respectively, more than ten times that of the original dielectric at the same conditions. The SAN/CSMA blends show excellent cyclic stability in harsh conditions. Combining the results with SAN/CSMA and ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer)/CSMA blends, it is demonstrated that this novel strategy can meet the demands of high-performing dielectric polymers at elevated temperatures.

Analysis of impulse withstand voltage of ester-based nanofluids

Ester-based nanofluids constitute an effective ecological alternative to petroleum-derived dielectric fluids for electrical engineering industry. Pulse induced dielectric breakdown is a key cause of power device failure. In this paper, we deal with the lightning impulse breakdown voltage (LI BDV) in natural and synthetic ester-based (NE and SE) nanofluids with various concentrations of magnetite (Fe3O4) and fullerene (C60) nanoparticles. The nanofluids show a decrement in positive polarity LI+ BDV as compared with the base ester. Negative polarity LI- BDV in the nanofluids is similar to that of base oils. Weibull statistical distributions are applied to analyse the results at different cumulative probabilities of 1 %, 10 %, and 50 %. Natural ester with C60 nanoparticles shows higher positive LI+ BDV values at a low probability level, while the negative LI- BDV reaches higher values at higher probability levels. The decreased LI BDV in NE and SE due to the magnetite nanoparticles are attributed to the nanoparticle clustering and percolation. The tendency of C60 nanoparticles to enhance the LI BDV in NE but not in SE is interpreted in the view of the nanoparticle concentration and oil's viscosity effect on the streamer branching and propagation.

Effect of moisture on breakdown strength and glass transition temperature of bio-polyamide reinforced with glass or basalt fiber

In this study we investigate the effect of moisture content on the dielectric breakdown strength and glass transition temperature (Tg) of bio-polyamide 4.10 reinforced with glass or basalt fiber (15, 30, 50 wt%). Moisture absorption decreased with increasing fiber content, regardless of fiber type. The reduction in breakdown voltage (BDV) was more pronounced in the composites with higher moisture content reinforced with basalt fiber. This may be due to weaker interactions at the interface. The presence of moisture decreased the glass transition temperature of the composites. PA 4.10, especially reinforced with glass fiber, is characterized by better performance properties than PA 6.6 reinforced with 50 wt% glass fiber in applications requiring both stability of mechanical properties and dielectric properties.

Investigations into the Impact of Deposition or Growth Techniques on the Field Oxide TID Response for 4H-SiC Space Applications

The total ionising dose (TID) reliability of a phosphorous pentoxide (P2O5) treated SiO2 (silicon dioxide) layer is compared for the first time to other industrially relevant oxides formed on 4H-silicon carbide (SiC). Metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors (MOSCAPs) are characterised before and after irradiation to ascertain changes in flat band voltage shift, leakage current, and dielectric breakdown (BV). Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) profiling reveals a significant phosphorus concentration near the SiO2/SiC interface, which led to improved TID resistance. The P2O5 treated oxide had the lowest leakage current at high voltage bias due to the high-temperature (1,000°C) anneal, though it had a significantly negative flat band voltage due to the high concentration of deposited phosphorus atoms. The thermal and P2O5 oxides demonstrated a TID resistance, suffering only minor shifts in flat band voltage, while the P2O5 oxide suffered the smallest decrease in its BV and the smallest leakage current rise, post-irradiation.

Electrical insulation properties in a cold plasma of alumina coating for the in-vessel stabilizing shell of the RFX-mod2 fusion device

This paper presents the results of experimental tests on samples made of copper coated with alumina layer, performed to assess the reliability of its dielectric properties for applications in the low temperature plasma at the edge of a fusion device. The cue of the study was related to the plasma facing components of the RFX-mod2 fusion device (Marrelli et al., 2019, Peruzzo et al., 2023, Peruzzo et al., 2019), devoted to the experimental study of the magnetic confinement of fusion plasmas in a variety of configurations, including the reversed-field pinch and the tokamak. In RFX-mod2 an in-vacuum copper shell for the passive stabilization of MHD modes will surround the plasma. To avoid potentially harmful electrical discharges, which could be induced by rapid transients of the plasma current, this structure must be covered with an electrically insulating layer. For RFX-mod2 an alumina coating was chosen, whose dielectric properties have been tested both in air and in the presence of weakly ionized plasma. Electrical tests, conducted on copper samples with alumina deposits of about 100μm thickness, revealed that the ceramic layer has a high electrical resistance value in air (>1GΩ), but electrical discharges can occur in presence of a weakly ionized plasma, depending on compactness and porosity of the alumina layer, causing local melting of the alumina and expulsion of copper droplets from the substrate. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analyses revealed that in the failed samples the ceramic layer was irregular and rough, with interconnected cavities and cracks, which could reduce its effective thickness and explain the dielectric breakdown at relatively low voltages (<400V). The analyses also showed that samples with a more compact layer present a higher dielectric strength in the presence of the plasma, highlighting that compactness and porosity play crucial roles in ensuring good insulation for materials in a plasma. This study led the definition of the requirements for the insulating coating of the plasma facing components of the RFX-mod2 fusion machine, however the results can be useful for other fusion and non-fusion plasma applications requiring electrical insulation, which can span from industrial devices to spacecrafts.

Modelling-Augmented Failure Diagnostics in Planar SiC MOS Devices Using TDDB Measurements

In this study we analyzed the physical mechanisms governing time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) and we used TDDB physical model of dielectric breakdown, implemented in the defect-centric Ginestra® modeling platform, to deconvolute the intrinsic material properties effects and geometry feature impact on the gate oxide (GOx) and SiC-device breakdown.

Design Optimization and Reliability Evaluation in 1.2 kV SiC Trench MOSFET with Deep P Structure

In this paper, 1.2 kV SiC trench MOSFET with deep P structure has been proposed to effectively shield the trench bottom oxide. The various design splits, such as N concentration between deep P and deep P to trench distance, were experimentally evaluated and TCAD simulations were performed to extract maximum oxide electric field at trench bottom. Based on trade off results, critical design parameters were optimized to obtain low Rdson and stable breakdown voltage with acceptable oxide electric field. To evaluate trench gate oxide reliability in wafer level, gate oxide integrity (GOI/Vramp), charge to breakdown (QBD), and time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) tests were conducted. Also, high temperature gate bias (HTGB) and high temperature reverse bias (HTRB) stress tests were carried out for assembled samples to compare device reliability depending on different designs. For the target design, the promising reliability results were confirmed in both wafer level and assembled samples.

From the quantum breakdown model to the lattice gauge theory

The one-dimensional quantum breakdown model, which features spatially asymmetric fermionic interactions simulating the electrical breakdown phenomenon, exhibits an exponential U(1) symmetry and a variety of dynamical phases including many-body localization and quantum chaos with quantum scar states. We investigate the minimal quantum breakdown model with the minimal number of on-site fermion orbitals required for the interaction and identify a large number of local conserved charges in the model. We then reveal a mapping between the minimal quantum breakdown model in certain charge sectors and a quantum link model which simulates the U(1) lattice gauge theory and show that the local conserved charges map to the gauge symmetry generators. A special charge sector of the model further maps to the PXP model, which shows quantum many-body scars. This mapping unveils the rich dynamics in different Krylov subspaces characterized by different gauge configurations in the quantum breakdown model.

Numerical Investigations into the Homogenization Effect of Nonlinear Composite Materials on the Pulsed Electric Field

Pulsed power equipment is often characterized by high energy density and field intensity. In the presence of strong electric field intensity, charge accumulation within insulators exacerbates electric field non-uniformity, leading to potential insulation breakdown, thereby posing a significant threat to the safe operation of pulsed power equipment. In this manuscript, we introduce nonlinear composite materials with field-dependent conductivity and permittivity to adaptively regulate the distribution of the pulsed electric field in insulation equipment. Finite-element modeling and analysis of the needle-plate electrodes and high-voltage bushing are carried out to comprehensively investigate the non-uniformity of the distribution of the electric field and the homogenization effect of various nonlinear materials in the presence of pulsed excitations of different timescales. Numerical results indicate that the involvement of nonlinear composite materials significantly improves the electric field distribution under pulse excitations. In addition, variations in the rising time of the pulses affect the maximum electric field intensity within the insulators considerably, but for pulses of nanosecond and microsecond scales, the tendencies are the opposite. Finally, via the simulations of the bushing, we illustrate that some measures proposed for improving the uniformity of the electric field under low frequencies, e.g., increasing the length of the electric field equalization layer and the distance of the underside of the electric field equalization layer from the grounding screen, are still effective for the homogenization of pulsed electric field.

Electrical breakdown mechanism and life prediction of thermal-aged epoxy/glass fibre composites

Epoxy/glass fibre composites possess excellent mechanical and electrical properties and are widely utilised in electrical and electronic power equipment. However, the composites exhibit relatively poor thermal conductivity, causing the temperature of the composites to increase during the operation of power equipment, resulting in a significant reduction in the electrical breakdown strength. Although the effects of thermal aging on polymeric materials have been widely studied, its influence on electrical strength mechanisms has not been investigated at the molecular level. In this study, epoxy/glass fibre composite specimens were subjected to accelerated thermal aging treatment for 360 h at 180 °C. Functional groups, molecular chain dynamics, and electrical breakdown are characterised using infrared spectroscopy, dielectric spectroscopy, and breakdown measurement. Subsequently, electrical breakdown mechanism and life prediction of the thermally aged composites are discussed. During thermal aging, the epoxy resin molecular chains undergo continuous oxidation and chain scission, which generate numerous polar functional groups and short chains and an increase in the free volume. This triggers an enhancement in the chain segmental dynamics, thereby significantly reducing the activation energy of the epoxy resin. After 360 h, activation energy decreased from 0.78 eV to 0.67 eV. The DC breakdown voltages of the specimens decreased from 168.28 kV/mm to 134.91 kV/mm. An insulation life prediction model for thermally aged epoxy/glass fibre composites is established based on the time-temperature equivalence theory. The prediction results indicate that the service life of the operational composites is approximately 11.2 years at 353 K, which is consistent with engineering experience.

Enhanced energy storage density and efficiency of nanocomposite dielectrics by modifying polymer matrix and aminated boron nitride nanosheet

Polymers and fillers with high dielectric constant (εr), charge-discharge efficiency (η) and breakdown strength (Eb) are fundamental to the development of nanocomposite dielectrics for superior energy storage capabilities. Herein, high-εr P(VDF-TrFE) is used to prepare the P(VDF-TrFE)-g-PMMA matrix with elevated εr and η, then the P(VDF-TrFE)-g-PMMA/BNNS-NH2 nanocomposites with uniformly oriented distribution of h-BN is obtained by a squeegee casting process using amino-boron nitride (BNNS-NH2) as fillers. Thanks to the limiting effect of PMMA and the high insulating effect of BNNS-NH2, the energy storage density (Ue) of the nanocomposite is up to 15.1 J/cm3 at 500 MV/m, which is 358 % and 182 % of the original P(VDF-TrFE). Furthermore, the η could reach to 72 %, being 184 % of neat polymer. These results demonstrate that the coordinated enhancement of Ue and η is critical for high performance energy storage, which provide scientific and technological support for the practicability of PVDF-based dielectrics.

Scalable In-situ Microfibrillar dielectric films: Achieving exceptional energy density and efficiency

It is a formidable challenge to develop a feasible strategy for the scalable fabrication of all-organic dielectrics with simultaneous improvements in both discharged energy density (Ud) and efficiency (η). Herein, an innovative technology of “melting extrusion-hot stretching-quenching” was put forward for the large-scale preparation of all-organic polymer dielectric films, where polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) was miscible with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) to form single dispersed phase in the polypropylene (PP) matrix and in-situ transformed into microfibrils with the aid of elongational flow field. Thereby, a simultaneous enhancement in the dielectric constant and breakdown strength was achieved and the as-prepared PP-based all-polymer dielectric film exhibited an unprecedented ultrahigh Ud of 9.6 J cm−3 and an exceptional η of 90.9 %. Experimental verification and computational simulation confirmed that the formation of highly oriented PMMA/PVDF microfibrils and well-aligned interfaces are constructive to enhancing breakdown strength by suppressing electric field distortion. The highly oriented dipoles in PVDF and PMMA, coupled with the eliminated ferroelectric behavior of PVDF, synergistically contributed to the heightened Ud and η. The approach presented in this work opens up a promising avenue for the large-scale production of all-organic capacitor films with enhanced Ud and η, heralding a new era of advanced dielectric materials.

Electrical properties enhancement of dually grafting modification for polypropylene cable insulation

AbstractPolypropylene (PP) is believed to be a rather promising cable insulating material for high‐capacity electric power system with low carbon emission due to its decent thermo‐resistance and recyclable nature. In this paper, a new dually chemical grafting modification strategy by methyl acrylate (MA) and acrylic acid (AA) is put forward to tailor the charge transportation behavior in PP, thus further enhancing the electrical properties. Experimental results indicate that the dually grafted PP with 2.3 weight percent (wt%) MA and 1.9 wt% AA shows enhanced volume resistivity and electrical breakdown strength than pure PP, and the space charge injection is significantly suppressed. This work further adopts thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) test and computational analysis based on density functional theory (DFT) to reveal the mechanism of enhancement. The analysis shows that grafted chemical groups can introduce quantities of deep traps and electrostatic potential wells which are strongly correlated with the carbonyl group and would hinder the charge transportation thus improving the electrical insulating performances of PP. This work would provide a new route of PP‐based dually grafting modification for the development of high‐voltage cable insulation.

Breakdown and interface dynamics of pulsed discharge plasma across air-water interface: From single to repetitive stimulation

Pulsed discharge in the vicinity of a multi-phase interface, where a discontinuity of physical properties exists, can be a joint problem of both electro- and thermo-physics. This study shows a comprehensive analysis of electric breakdown across an air-water interface and its successive multi-physical effects. The scenario is constructed via a pair of pin electrodes positioned on both sides of the interface, and the transient discharge is analyzed using high-speed backlight photography synchronized with electrical and optical diagnostics. It is observed that the corona/streamer develops from either side of the pin electrode. Electrostatic instability causes the interface to fluctuate and a water column to form above the interface. By increasing the applied voltage, discharge evolves from “dielectric barrier” mode (pin to interface) to “through breakdown” mode (pin to pin). Once the conductive channel bridges two electrodes, electric power of ∼40 kW peak and deposited energy of 100 mJ will be injected into the channel and promote the “streamer-spark” transition, resulting in a crown-like splash (100 m s-1) near the interface and cavity formation. As the quenching of diffused plasmas, the over-expanded splash (5 mm in diameter) would be re-compressed by the ambient air. Particularly, the shrinkage of the thin water film of the splash can reach a 20 mm jet near the axis and develop Rayleigh-Taylor instability, along with the formation of micro-jets eruption during the convergent collision. More sophisticated interactions will appear at higher repetitive frequency (>100 Hz), where the perturbation caused by one pulse will influence the next, namely the “memory” effect. Furthermore, periodic loading on the interface effectively changes the cavity characteristics, showing an attractive prospect in fluid control applications.

Energy storage properties, transmittance and hardness of Er doped K0.5Na0.5NbO3-based ceramics

Transparent energy storage ceramics can balance energy storage characteristic and optical characteristic, and are expected to be used in areas such as transparent pulse capacitors. However, excellent energy storage performance and dramatic light transmittance are difficult to achieve simultaneously, limiting their subsequent development in the actual applications. The paper proposes a way to improve the transparent energy storage properties of KNN-based samples by regulating domain and grain size. By introducing an appropriate amount of Er2O3, fine cube grains and nanodomains are constructed. When doping 0.20 mol% Er2O3, the ceramics exhibited excellent recoverable energy storage density Wrec ∼ 6.2 J/cm3, superior energy-storage efficiency η ∼ 71.3 %, large dielectric breakdown strength Eb ∼ 670 kV/cm, ultrahigh hardness value of 6.9 GPa, and a maximum transmittance T ∼72 % at 880 nm. Dense microstructure, nanoscale grains, symmetrical lattice structure and relaxor behavior are the main reasons for obtaining high energy storage and transparency properties.

Ferroelectric Aluminum Scandium Nitride Transistors with Intrinsic Switching Characteristics and Artificial Synaptic Functions for Neuromorphic Computing.

Aluminum Scandium Nitride (Al1-xScxN) has received attention for its exceptional ferroelectric properties, whereas the fundamental mechanism determining its dynamic response and reliability remains elusive. In this work, an unreported nucleation-based polarization switching mechanism in Al0.7Sc0.3N (AlScN) is unveiled, driven by its intrinsic ferroelectricity rooted in the ionic displacement. Fast polarization switching, characterized by a remarkably low characteristic time of 0.00183ps, is captured, and effectively simulated using a nucleation-limited switching (NLS) model, where the profound effect of defects on the nucleation and domain propagation is systematically studied. These findings are further integrated into Monte Carlo simulations to unravel the influence of the activation energy for ferroelectric switching on the distributions of switching thresholds. The long-term reliability of devices is also confirmed by time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) measurements, and the effect of thickness scaling is discussed. Ferroelectric field-effect transistors (FeFETs) are demonstrated through the integration of AlScN and 2D MoS2 channel, where biological synaptic functions can be emulated with optimized operation voltage. The artificial neural network built from AlScN-based FeFETs achieves 93.8% recognition accuracy of handwritten digits, demonstrating the potential of ferroelectric AlScN in future neuromorphic computing applications.