Innovative High-Energy Denisty Capacitors for Navy Application

This proposal is to develop very high energy density capacitors in order to increase the sound source level of sparker modules, in support of the Tactical Acoustic Measurement (TAM) program. The two materials, polyvinyledene difluoride (PVDF) polymer filmand antiferroelectric lanthanum doped lead zirconate titanate (Pb(La,Zr,)TiO3, or PLZT) ceramic, have the potential to increase the energy density by up to a factor of four higher than current high energy density capacitors. In Phase I, we will demonstratethe capability of each capacitor type by measuring their electrical circuit properties and testing their performance in a sparker system. In collaboration with capacitor manufacturers, we will estimate production costs for each capacitor type. Based ontest results and cost estimates, we will recommend further capacitor development and incoration into TAM sparkers in Phase II.