High- and low-field dielectric characteristics of dielectrophoretically aligned ceramic/polymer nanocomposites

Polymer/ceramic composites with controlled spatial distribution of fillers are synthesized, and the corresponding changes in their properties are studied. Using dielectrophoretic assembly, we create anisotropic composites of aligned BaTiO₃ particles in silicone elastomer and study their electrical properties as a function of ceramic volume fraction and composite morphology. These structured composites show an increase in the permittivity compared to composites with the same composition and randomly dispersed (0–3) fillers. This study emphasizes the important role of conductivity, permittivity, and, particularly, local cluster distribution in controlling high-field dielectric behavior. Designed anisotropy in dielectric properties can provide unexampled paradigms for the development of high energy density materials and gain important insights into the mechanisms that control dielectric breakdown strengths and nonlinear conduction at high fields in polymer/ceramic composites.