Powder-based superdielectric materials for novel capacitor design

This thesis is part of a continuing effort to improve upon the performance and fabrication methods of powder-based superdielectric material (PSDM) capacitors. This thesis reports the performance as a function of discharge time for very thin films of aqueous NaCl solution-saturated silica gel films spread within holes of a very thin (16 μm) polymer sheet. The most significant finding is that these PSDM capacitors have unprecedented, functional dielectric values for this thickness and excellent power and energy densities (≈90 J/cmᶟ). Earlier PSDM studies indicated that thicknesses ˃300 μm PSDMs have extremely high dielectric values. However, performance of these capacitors extrapolated to very thin dielectric layers was still unknown. This study recorded dielectric values of up to 1x10⁹ for layers on the order of ten microns-thick. In addition, this study provides unique required engineering data regarding the performance of SDM as a function of discharge time. In summation, PSDM capacitors were successfully tested as a function of frequency and form factor for various thicknesses.http://archive.org/details/powderbasedsuper1094555518Lieutenant, Junior Grade, United States NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited