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Trap-modulated carrier transport tailors the dielectric properties of alumina/epoxy nanocomposites

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Abstract

This paper focuses on the trap-modulated carrier transport in the alumina/epoxy nanocomposites (NCs) and its effect on the dielectric properties of NCs. The permittivity, conductivity, space charge and breakdown strength of the NCs are tested and the trap parameters are characterized. Results show that the effective permittivity and conductivity of NCs exhibit a lower value at filler loadings of 0.5 and 1 wt% compared with the neat epoxy, together with an enhancement in breakdown strength and a suppression in space charge accumulation. The improved dielectric properties at low filler loadings are attributed to the deep traps in the nanoparticle-polymer interfaces. The trap modulated carrier transport is formulated by Poole–Frenkel model, which demonstrates the introduction of deep traps could restrict the mobility of charge carriers, leading to the lower conductivity and enhanced breakdown strength.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Professor Yang Cao and Mrs. JoAnne Ronzello for their help with PEA and TDDS measurement at University of Connecticut. Boya Zhang thanks the China Scholarship Council (CSC) for the financial support during his visit to UCONN. This work was funded by the National Basic Research Program of China under Grant No. 2014CB239502.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Boya Zhang, Wenqiang Gao & Guixin Zhang

  2. Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA

    Boya Zhang

  3. CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierachical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China

    Pengfei Chu & Zhong Zhang

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  1. Boya Zhang
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  2. Wenqiang Gao
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  3. Pengfei Chu
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  4. Zhong Zhang
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  5. Guixin Zhang
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Correspondence to Boya Zhang or Guixin Zhang.

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Zhang, B., Gao, W., Chu, P. et al. Trap-modulated carrier transport tailors the dielectric properties of alumina/epoxy nanocomposites. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 29, 1964–1974 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-017-8107-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-017-8107-8

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