Composite Energy Storage Capacitor

High-energy-density storage capacitors for solid-state pulsed power systems require improved reliability while producing a fast discharge (from 50 microseconds to 500 microseconds) and high peak current (from 100 amperes to 10 kiloamperes), with low inductance connections, consistency with high power solid-state board layouts, and minimum production cost. The ceramic dielectric materials that are mostly used in these capacitors have a limited lifetime, due to the large dielectric permittivity (>5000) of the ferroelectric ceramic. This limitation is due to the relatively small breakdown strength (~50 kilovolts/centimeter) at the voids and cracks. This project will develop a new composite energy storage capacitor based on a three-component nanocomposite, and on a special treatment of inclusions in the polymer host material. This approach will improve both the dielectric constant (greater than 10) and the electric strength (greater than 3 millivolts/centimeter), while enabling fast discharge. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee The new capacitor material should result in a novel capacitive structure with significantly improved accumulated energy density. Applications should range from high energy physics to power conditioning, uninterrupted power supplies, utility distribution substations, insulation for compact and highly efficient electric machines, medical defibrillators, and aircraft ignition systems. Military applications would include power conditioning for compact, high-power electrical systems for aircraft and directed energy weapons.