Thickness and volume dependence of dielectric strength in advanced nanodielectric materials allowing for further size reduction of ultrahigh voltage capacitor prototypes

We have developed a high dielectric, nanocomposite material, MU100, for use in pulsed power applications that include dielectric loaded antennas and ultra-high voltage capacitors. This paper presents the electrical properties of the first full-scale capacitor prototype along with sub-element modules. Additionally, refinements in the development process have sparked interest in a third-generation capacitor that would use similar dimensions as the initial small-scale samples that recorded breakdown fields of 225 kV/cm on average with peak breakdown fields of 328 kV/cm. The dielectric constant of these large-scale capacitors was 160. These capacitor prototypes have demonstrated voltage hold off of 500 kV. Similarly, thin samples that operated at 35–40 kV had lifetimes without failure in excess of 800 000 discharges at 80% of their maximum rated field strength.