Multilayer Capacitors Utilizing Phase Change Ceramics for High Energy Storage

For this Phase I SBIR program, high volumetric efficiency, energy storage capacitors are proposed using phase change ceramics. These materials are nonlinear dielectrics that make use of electric field induced antiferroelectric to ferroelectric phase transition to store more energy per volume than is possible with linear dielectrics (10 J/cm3 compared to 2 J/cm3). Furthermore phase change materials are only charged to the ferroelectric switching field which is typically <1/2 the dielectric breakdown strength, where electric fields approximately equal to the breakdown strength are needed for even modest energy storage in linear dielectrics. Thus capacitors made from phase change ceramics are expected to be more reliable than conventional energy storage components. In this program, multilayer capacitors will be fabricated usingphase change ceramics. The capacitors will be tested for properties and reliability important to pulsed power applications. As a small capacitor manufacturer (~50,000 components per month), Centre Capacitor is ideally suited to develop components for the relatively small pulsedpower market, which has not been addressed by larger companies producing billions of devices per year. Multilayer capacitors fabricated from phase change ceramics are expected to meet the growing demand for high energy storage components. these will be vital components for applications such as power conditioning for motor control, pulsed power weapons, implantable defibrillators, and ship board voltage control.