Measuring the Permittivity of Ferroelectric Nanoparticles in an Injection Molded Polymer Composite

Sandia National Laboratories Engineering, 2020–21

Liaison(s): Todd Monson
Advisor(s): Albert Dato
Students(s): Katie Partington (TL-S), Dithi Ganjam (TL-F), Akshay Trikha, Maia Gibson, Gio Ferro, and Mandy Wu (S)

Barium titanate (BTO) is a ferroelectric material used in capacitors for its high dielectric constant, which may increase in nanoparticle form. The Sandia National Laboratories Clinic team investigated the dielectric constant of BTO nanoparticles as a function of particle diameter. Transmission electron microscope images were used to model BTO nanocomposites and simulate dielectric constants using COMSOL Multiphysics. Dielectric constants of composites of BTO nanocomposites in matrixes of low-density polyethylene and Epoxy were determined using particle diameter, volume fraction and agglomeration.