Enhanced energy density of poly(arylene ether nitriles) composites filled with surface engineered BaTiO3 nanoparticles

Abstract The introduction of nano-sized BaTiO3 (BT) into polymer host matrices brings about promising dielectric and energy storage properties. However, pristine BT tends to aggregate and is difficult to be compatible with polymer matrices, thus requiring surface modification of BT nanoparticles. In this work, γ-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (KH550) was grafted onto the surface of BT as a shell and amino-functionalized core-shell KH550@BT nanoparticles have been successfully prepared. Thereafter, poly(arylene ether nitrile) (PEN) has been chosen as polymer matrix due to its excellent thermal properties, and xKH550@BT/(1-x)PEN composite films were prepared by solution casting film formation method. The energy density of KH550@BT/PEN composites with 30 wt.% filler loading is 1.30 J cm−3 (η = 61.32 %) at 150 MV m−1, more than 36.84 % increase when compared with pristine PEN polymer (0.95 J cm−3 at 170 MV m−1). Temperature-dependent and frequency-dependent D–E loops confirmed that KH550@BT/PEN composites possess good temperature and frequency stability.