Excellent comprehensive energy storage capabilities achieved in linear polymer composites via inserting acrylic rubber dielectric elastomers†

Abstract

Multilayer composites have potential applications in organic film capacitors due to their excellent dielectric and breakdown characteristics. However, poor efficiency (η) and limited available energy density (U_e) of the multilayer composite structures via utilizing nonlinear ferroelectrics as a component layer or polymer matrix restrict the practical energy-storage application because of their low electric displacement difference (D_max ? D_rem) value and high field-dependent energy loss. Herein, solution-processable all-polymer composites comprising highly insulating poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as the outer layer and acrylic rubber dielectric elastomers (DEs) as the constituent middle layer are elaborately designed for comprehensive energy storage performances. Significantly improved D_max ? D_rem and corresponding U_e of 12.45 J cm^?3 have been delivered in the designed films by deliberately modulating the relative ratio (10.7 vol%) of the DE layer. Impressively, η is retained as high as 89% even at 350 MV m^?1. The comprehensive energy storage performance of this contribution surpasses the upper limits of the reported multilayered dielectric composites that reveal a U_e of ～12 J cm^?3 and η of ～80% at comparable electric fields of 310–370 MV m^?1. All these fascinating superiorities afford a feasible method for endowing flexible trilayered all-polymer composites with desired comprehensive energy storage capabilities.