Achieving remarkable energy storage enhancement in polymer dielectrics via constructing an ultrathin Coulomb blockade layer of gold nanoparticles

High-energy density polymer dielectrics play a crucial role in various pulsed energy storage and conversion systems. So far, many strategies have been demonstrated to be able to effectively improve the energy density of polymer dielectrics, but sophisticated fabrication processes are usually needed which result in high cost and poor repeatability. Herein, an easy-operated sputtering and hot-pressing process is developed to significantly enhance the energy density of polymer dielectrics. Surprisingly, for the poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) films sputtered with merely 0.0064 vol% gold nanoparticles, the energy density is remarkably improved by 84.3% because of the concurrent enhancements in breakdown strength (by 37.5%) and dielectric permittivity (by 25.5%), which is demonstrated to have originated from the unique Coulomb blockade and micro-capacitor effect of the gold nanoparticles. It is further confirmed that this design strategy is also applicable for commercial biaxially oriented polypropylene and poly(methyl methacrylate). This work offers a novel, easy-operated and universally applicable route to improve the energy density of polymeric dielectrics, which paves the way for their application in modern electronics and power modules.