Core-shell structured BaTiO3@Al2O3 nanoparticles in polymer composites for dielectric loss suppression and breakdown strength enhancement

Abstract Design of core–shell nanoarchitectures is powerful approach to obtain advanced high- k polymer nanocomposites. Core–shell nanoparticles with uniform amorphous Al 2 O 3 shell layer encapsulating BaTiO 3 (BT) particles were fabricated through an effective, facile and low-cost heterogeneous nucleation method. The dielectric behaviors of the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanocomposite films were adjusted by varying BT@Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles loadings. The effects of Al 2 O 3 shell and the arising interfaces on the dielectric and electric properties in comparison with bare BT nanoparticles were studied. Due to the highly insulating Al 2 O 3 shell with proper dielectric constant, the local electric field distribution around interfaces between polar BT nanoparticles and PVDF were greatly modified leading to obvious dielectric loss suppression yet maintaining high dielectric constant. The study provides a solution for obtaining high- k dielectric composite with low loss and high breakdown strength, which is highly desired in high power systems.