Polymers containing highly polarizable conjugated side chains as high-performance all-organic nanodielectric materials

The discovery of nanodipolar π-conjugated oligomer-containing polymers as high performance nanodielectric materials with high permittivity and low dielectric loss over a wide range of frequency (100 Hz-4 MHz) is reported. Terthiophene-containing methacrylate polymers are synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Both X-ray and thermal studies indicate the formation of small crystalline domains of terthiophene side chains dispersed in amorphous matrix. The highly polarizable and fast-responsive nanodipoles from the nanoscale crystalline domains (<2 nm) are believed to dictate the performance. These polymers uniquely satisfy nanodipole architectures conjectured two decades ago to guide the design of high performance nanodielectric materials. This unprecedented approach can be generalized to a variety of π-conjugated oligomer-containing polymers for the development of high energy density capacitor materials. A new series of polymers containing π-conjugated oligomer as side chains show great promise as candidates for high performance nanodielectric materials. The oligomer-based highly polarizable side chains can self-organize to form nanoscale, conjugated, electrically conductive domains, which uniquely meet the requirement for nanodipole architecture, resulting in high permittivity and low dielectric loss across a wide range of frequency (100 Hz-4 MHz).