Hydrothermal synthesis of BaTiO3 nanowires for high energy density nanocomposite capacitors

One-dimensional inorganic high- k nanowires (NWs) show a potential of achieving high energy densities in polymer-matrix nanocomposite capacitors. In this study, we investigate a hydrothermal synthesis of BT NWs, by which BT NWs with high aspect ratios of pure phase, [110]-oriented structures were obtained. The BT NWs are filled in a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix to prepare nanocomposites and their dielectric and energy storage properties are investigated. An enhanced dielectric constant of ε r ~ 58 at 100 Hz is achieved in PVDF–BaTiO 3 NWs (30 vol%), while the value is 47 for a traditional composite filled with BT nanoparticles (NPs). Besides, high breakdown strength of E b > 362 MV/m is also achieved in the composites. PVDF–BaTiO 3 NWs nanocomposite exhibits a high discharged energy density of U d ~ 12.85 J/cm 3 at 300 MV/m at 100 Hz with a discharge efficiency of 58%. The simulation from the finite element analysis on distributions of voltage and electric displacement is studied and showed the consistency with experimental results. This study demonstrates a facile and large-scale route to the synthesis of BaTiO 3 NWs for making high ε r , E b and U d nanocomposite capacitors.