Structural dependence of phase transition and dielectric relaxation in ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-chlorotrifluoroethylene-trifluoroethylene)s

A series of ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-chlorotrifluoroethylene-trifluoroethylene)s, P(VDF-CTFE-TrFE), with systematically varied chemical compositions have been synthesized via a two-step approach consisting of copolymerization and dechlorination. The effect of polymer structure on polarization responses and dielectric properties has been investigated over a broad frequency and temperature range. As shown in the X-ray diffraction patterns, multiple phases coexist within the terpolymers as a result of the gauche conformation induced by the CTFE unit. The polarization hysteresis loops reveal the variation of remanent polarization and coercive electric field with the CTFE content due to the changes of crystallinity and crystalline phase. The observed broad dielectric constant peak with Vogel-Fulcher dielectric dispersion behavior suggests a transformation from a normal ferroelectric to a ferroelectric relaxor of the polymers. The relationship between the local relaxation process and relaxor ferroelectric behavior has been examined on the basis of the dielectric and mechanical loss tangents as a function of temperature.     

Dielectric relaxation behavior of colloidal suspensions of palladium nanoparticle chains dispersed in PVP/EG solution

Dielectric measurements were carried out on colloidal suspensions of palladium nanoparticle chains dispersed in poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)/ethylene glycol (PVP/EG) solution with different particle volume fractions, and dielectric relaxation with relaxation time distribution and small relaxation amplitude was observed in the frequency range from 10(5) to 10(7) Hz. By means of the method based on logarithmic derivative of the dielectric constant and a numerical Kramers-Kronig transform method, two dielectric relaxations were confirmed and dielectric parameters were determined from the dielectric spectra. The dielectric parameters showed a strong dependence on the volume fraction of palladium nanoparticle chain. Through analyzing limiting conductivity at low frequency, the authors found the conductance percolation phenomenon of the suspensions, and the threshold volume fraction is about 0.18. It was concluded from analyzing the dielectric parameters that the high frequency dielectric relaxation results from interfacial polarization and the low frequency dielectric relaxation is a consequence of counterion polarization. They also found that the dispersion state of the palladium nanoparticle chain in PVP/EG solution is dependent on the particle volume fraction, and this may shed some light on a better application of this kind of materials.     

壳聚糖微球悬浊液的介电谱研究:弛豫机制的解释和内部信息的获得

结合DLVO理论和壳聚糖微球的特点, 提出了适合实验数据的电动力学模型, 并分析了浓厚分散系的界面极化弛豫的微观机制. 进而测量了不同粒径壳聚糖微球悬浊液的介电谱, 发现在10～100 MHz频率范围内均出现明显的介电弛豫现象. 利用上述模型合理解释了该弛豫现象以及微球粒径对界面极化弛豫的影响, 结果也证明了我们提出的模型的适当性. 此外, 利用Hanai方法, 通过介电参数准确计算出了各悬浊液的内部信息, 并且分析了这些实时信息的合理性. 研究结果从实验和理论两方面展示了介电谱方法在即时获取壳聚糖内部信息上的独到优势.     

Dielectric model and theoretical analysis of cationic reverse micellar solutions in CTAB/isooctane/n-hexanol/water systems

Dielectric relaxation spectra of CTAB reverse micellar solutions, CTAB/isooctane/n-hexanol/water systems with different concentrations of CTAB and different water contents, were investigated in the frequency range from 40 Hz to 110 MHz. Two striking dielectric relaxations were observed at about 10(4) Hz and 10(5) Hz, respectively. Dielectric parameters were obtained by fitting the data using the Cole-Cole equation with two Cole-Cole dispersion terms and the electrode polarization term. These parameters show different variation with the increase of the concentration of CTAB or the water content. In order to explain the two relaxations systematically and obtain detailed information on the systems and the inner surface of the reverse micelles, an electrical model has been constituted. On the basis of this model, the low-frequency dielectric relaxation was interpreted by the radial diffusion of free counterions in the diffuse layer with Grosse model. For the high-frequency dielectric relaxation, Hanai theory and the corresponding analysis method were used to calculate the phase parameters of the constituent phases in these systems. The reasonable analysis results suggest that the high-frequency relaxation probably originated from the interfacial polarization. The structural and electrical information of the present systems were obtained from the phase parameters simultaneously.     

Dielectric relaxation in a water-oil-triton X-100 microemulsion near phase inversion

A mixture of water (10 mM KCl), toluene and Triton X-100 (40:40:20 wt %) shows temperature-dependent phase inversion. The phase inversion has been studied by dielectric spectroscopy over a frequency range of 10 Hz to 1 GHz. At temperatures above about 37 degrees C, dielectric relaxation appeared around 10 MHz, which was due to interfacial polarization in a water-in-oil type emulsion. The dielectric relaxation drastically changed between 30 and 25 degrees C. With decreasing temperature, the intensity of dielectric relaxation increased steeply below 30 degrees C to attain a peak at 27 degrees C, where that change was associated with an increase in low-frequency conductivity by about three orders between 30 and 26 degrees C. The dielectric behavior has been interpreted in terms of interfacial polarization with a percolation model in which spherical water droplets, arranged in array in a continuous oil phase, are randomly connected with their nearest neighbors using water bonds.     

Dielectric analysis of polystyrene microcapsules using scanning dielectric microscope

 A dielectric imaging technique with a scanning dielectric microscope was applied to polystyrene microcapsules in an aqueous environment to study the electrical properties of individual ones. The dielectric images obtained over a frequency range from 10 kHz to 10 MHz showed frequency dependence, which indicated dielectric dispersion (or relaxation) due to interfacial polarization or the build up of charge on the boundaries between the microcapsule shell and the aqueous phases. The dielectric dispersion was analyzed based on an equivalent electrical circuit model and a shell-sphere model in which a spherical core is covered with an insulating shell. Received: 26 September 1997 Accepted: 26 December 1997     

Dielectric measurement of a single sub-millimeter size microcapsule

A new technique is described for measuring dielectric dispersion of a single microcapsule in suspension over a frequency range from 1 kHz to 10 MHz. It was applied to polystyrene microcapsules which showed a two-step dielectric dispersion, that is, a superposition of two Debye type dispersions. The dielectric dispersion was analyzed by an electrical model in which a spherical core covered with a shell is immersed in a continuous phase, yielding the phase parameters related to the microcapsule: the wall thickness, the permittivity and conductivity of the core phase. The advantage of this technique is that it can characterize individual microcapsules, whereas the conventional method provides average properties of many microcapsules. Hence, the technique enables us to directly determine the distributions of the phase parameters and to exactly examine the relationship between the dielectric behavior and the microcapsule structure simultaneously observed by microscopy.     

稀薄细胞悬浊系模型的介电解析法

对稀薄细胞粒子是浊液体系进行了介电模型化,在导出的描述该体系介电行为的理论公式的基础上,确立了从实验观察到的介电参数获得体系相参数的精确解析方法,对该体系可能产生介电弛豫的原因进行了现象论的分析,并以一个微胶囊作为细胞模型进行了介电测量和解析,获得了合理的结果.     

A test of the method of images at the surface of molecular materials

The method of images is tested by comparing two ways of calculating the polarization energy in crystalline fullerene C60 and in bulk amorphous polyethylene (PE): (i) treating the whole molecular material microscopically, and (ii) replacing part of the material by a uniform dielectric continuum of the same relative permittivity. The method of images is accurate to within 5% once the distance of the charge from the surface of the dielectric continuum exceeds about twice the average spacing between the polarizable units in the molecular material. For C60 crystals the method of images always overestimates the magnitude of the polarization energy, partly because it ignores the reduction in the relative permittivity of the dielectric continuum near its surface. For amorphous PE the method of images can overestimate or underestimate the true result, depending on the local density around the charge.     

Wide-frequency-range dielectric response of polystyrene latex dispersions

In this work we analyze the dielectric properties of dilute colloidal suspensions of nonconducting spherical particles with a thin electrical double layer from experimental data obtained by performing impedance spectroscopy experiments over a broad frequency range, from 20 Hz to 1 GHz. The electrode polarization correction was made by fitting a circuit model in the complex impedance plane (impedance spectrum) using a constant phase angle (CPA) element to fit the electrode polarization in series with the sample impedance. This simple procedure is found to be effective in eliminating the electrode contribution. The dielectric response shows two different dispersions, the alpha relaxation (counterion relaxation) that occurs at low kilohertz frequencies, and the delta relaxation (Maxwell-Wagner effect) found in the MHz range. These are reasonably well fitted over a broad frequency range by the theoretical expressions given by a simplified standard model (not including anomalous conduction) and a generalized model (including anomalous conduction) for the low-frequency dispersion, plus Maxwell-Wagner-O'Konski theory for the delta relaxation in the mid-frequency range. An analysis was also made of the need to include, for these latices, the effects of ion mobility in the Stern layer in order for the values of the zeta-potential obtained from electrophoretic and dielectric data to be compatible with each other.     

Hyperelectronic polarization in macromolecular solids

Hyperelectronic polarization may be viewed as the electrical polarization in external fields due to the pliant interaction with the charge pairs of excitons, in which the charges are molecularly separated and range over molecularly limited domains. It is particularly pronounced in molecular solids composed of long polymeric molecules having extensive regions of electronic orbital delocalization. Hyperelectronic polarization is regarded as the principal contributor to the high polarizabilities of the following five macromolecular solids: four polyacene quinone radical polymers formed by condensation of aromatic hydrocarbon derivatives with aromatic acids and poly(Cu(II)-N,N′- dimethyl rebeanate). The first four polymers at 100 hz had dielectric constants of 1800–2400, decreasing to about 58–100 at 100,000 hz, with relaxation times of 10^?3 to 10^?4 sec. A sixth polymer, a Schiff-base condensate of 1,4-napthaquinone and p-toluene diisocyanate, however, showed little hyperelectronic polarization, displaying a dielectric constant of 10, constant over 100–100,000 hz. By simple arguments it is shown that the relaxation times and the frequency response of conduction are consonant with the proposed model of charges roaming over long molecular domains (up to 4000 A.) but restricted by molecular boundaries.     

Dielectric spectroscopy and electrophoretic mobility measurements interpreted with the standard electrokinetic model

We report results from complementary electrokinetic measurements-dielectric relaxation and electrophoretic mobility-undertaken to test the applicability of the standard electrokinetic theory with a model system. Dielectric spectra were obtained at frequencies between 1 kHz and 40 MHz with a new, two-electrode cell design [Hollingsworth and Saville, J. Colloid Interface Sci. 257 (2003) 65-76]; mobility data were acquired with an electrophoretic light scattering instrument. Data from the two-electrode cell were collected at different electrode separations and interpreted with newly developed procedures to remove the influence of electrode polarization. Methodology A employs extrapolation to infinite electrode separation to compute the dielectric constant and conductivity as functions of frequency. The contributions from suspended particles are reported in terms of dielectric constant and conductivity increments. Methodology B uses a theoretical model of electrode polarization and the standard electrokinetic model in a nonlinear regression scheme. Results are presented in several forms: frequency-dependent dielectric constant and conductivity increments, frequency-dependent dielectric constants and conductivities, and the complex dipole coefficient. It is shown that the standard model provides a consistent methodology for interpreting particle behavior; zeta-potentials inferred from mobility and dielectric relaxation agree to within experimental error. Moreover, the cell design and interpretation are straightforward and provide relatively simple ways to obtain complementary measurements over a wide frequency range. The results unambiguously show that electrokinetic character of this dispersion follows the standard model.     

Dielectric study on membrane adsorption and release: Relaxation mechanism and diffusion dynamics

Dielectric monitoring of the adsorption or release process of salicylic acid (SA) by chitosan membrane shows that the dielectric spectra of the chitosan membrane/ SA solution systems change regularly in the adsorption or release process. By analyzing the regularity, a new mechanism for the relaxations is proposed. The concentration polarization layer (CPL) caused by SA adsorption or release is confirmed to be essential for the dielectric relaxations. The changes of the spectra with time are explained by account of the relationship between CPL properties and dielectric strength. Based on this relaxation mechanism, a theoretical method can be established to calculate dynamical parameters of inner structure of the adsorption or release systems from their dielectric spectra. Therefore, dielectric spec- troscopy is demonstrated to be a promising method for estimating interfacial distribution of ionic sub- stances and their binding to membrane in a non-invasive way.     

Large polarization and record-high performance of energy storage induced by a phase change in organic molecular crystals

Dielectrics that undergo electric-field-induced phase changes are promising for use as high-power electrical energy storage materials and transducers. We demonstrate the stepwise on/off switching of large polarization in a series of dielectrics by flipping their antipolar or canted electric dipoles via proton transfer and inducing simultaneous geometric changes in their π-conjugation system. Among antiferroelectric organic molecular crystals, the largest-magnitude polarization jump was obtained as 18 μC cm⁻² through revisited measurements of squaric acid (SQA) crystals with improved dielectric strength. The second-best polarization jump of 15.1 μC cm⁻² was achieved with a newly discovered antiferroelectric, furan-3,4-dicarboxylic acid. The field-induced dielectric phase changes show rich variations in their mechanisms. The quadruple polarization hysteresis loop observed for a 3-(4-chlorophenyl)propiolic acid crystal was caused by a two-step phase transition with moderate polarization jumps. The ferroelectric 2-phenylmalondialdehyde single crystal having canted dipoles behaved as an amphoteric dielectric, exhibiting a single or double polarization hysteresis loop depending on the direction of the external field. The magnitude of a series of observed polarizations was consistently reproduced within the simplest sublattice model by the density functional theory calculations of dipole moments flipping over a hydrogen-bonded chain or sheet (sublattice) irrespective of compounds. This finding guarantees a tool that will deepen our understanding of the microscopic phase-change mechanisms and accelerate the materials design and exploration for improving energy-storage performance. The excellent energy-storage performance of SQA was demonstrated by both a high recoverable energy-storage density W_r of 3.3 J cm⁻³ and a nearly ideal efficiency (90%). Because of the low crystal density, the corresponding energy density per mass (1.75 J g⁻¹) exceeded those derived from the highest W_r values (∼8–11 J cm⁻³) reported for several bulk antiferroelectric ceramics , without modification to relaxor forms.

Electric-field induced phase changes, which are promising for use in high-power electrical energy storage, can be realized in a series of organic dielectrics by flipping the antipolar or canted electric dipoles via proton transfer.     

Effect of charge density fluctuations within a droplet on dielectric polarization of ionic microemulsions

A statistical model of the dielectric polarization of ionic water-in-oil microemulsions is proposed. The model makes it possible to describe the effect of temperature and dispersed phase content on the static dielectric permittivity behavior of the microemulsions at a region far below percolation. With the help of this model, the microemulsions formed with the surfactant, sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT), have been analyzed. The studied systems are considered to consist of nanometer-sized spherical non-interacting water droplets of equal size with negatively charged head groups , staying at the interface and positive counterions Na⁺, distributed in the electrical diffuse double layer of the droplet interior. It can be conjectured that two different mechanisms, that provide an increase of the static dielectric permittivity as a function of temperature, may take place. These may be attributed either to the aggregation of droplets or the temperature growth of polarizability of non-interacting and therefore non-aggregating droplets dispersed in oil. The results support the hypothesis that the experimental temperature behavior of dielectric polarization far below the percolation region is only due to the polarization of a single droplet and not to an aggregation. The droplet polarizability is proportional to the fluctuation mean-square dipole moment of a droplet. It is shown that this mean-square dipole moment and the corresponding value of the dielectric increment, depend upon the equilibrium distribution of counterions within a diffuse double layer. The density distribution of ions is determined by the degree of the dissociation of the ionic surfactant. The dissociation of the ionic surfactant in the system has been analyzed numerically. The relationship between the constant of dissociation and the experimental dielectric permittivity has been ascertained.     

膜/液界面浓度极化现象的介电解析

对由强、弱荷电膜和溶液构成的膜／液非均匀体系，在10－107Hz频率范围进行了介电测量，在直流偏压下，该体系显示了二个显著的介电弛豫．利用具有电导率分布相，即浓度极化相的介电理论对强行电的离子交换膜的结果进行了介电解析，从实验上测得的介电参数求出了反映膜／液界面浓度极化层构造的参数，讨论了该体系产生介电弛像的原因、说明了介电理论的合理性，并提出了膜／液界面体系产生介电弛豫现象的可能机理．     

Direct Differentiation of the Types of Polarization Responsible for the Electrorheological Effect By a Dielectric Method

Debye polarization, ionic displacement polarization, and Maxwell-Wagner (interfacial) polarization are discussed in this paper, because they would most likely take place in an electrorheological (ER) suspension. The temperature dependences of the dielectric loss tangent maximums governed by these three types of polarization are theoretically found to be quite different. Given this fact, a method that can directly distinguish the polarization type and clarify which polarization would be mainly responsible for the ER effect is proposed. Two kinds of typical ER suspensions, heterogeneous particle type and homogeneous liquid crystalline polymer type, are studied using our method. It is found that Maxwell-Wagner polarization would be responsible for the ER effect both in a heterogeneous and in a homogeneous ER system. These findings present direct experimental evidence for the previous assumption that the Maxwell-Wagner polarization would dominate in the heterogeneous ER system and also shed light on the ER mechanism in a liquid crystalline polymer-type ER system. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

A method for treating the passage of a charged hard sphere ion as it passes through a sharp dielectric boundary

In the implicit solvent models of electrolytes (such as the primitive model (PM)), the ions are modeled as point charges in the centers of spheres (hard spheres in the case of the PM). The surfaces of the spheres are not polarizable which makes these models appropriate to use in computer simulations of electrolyte systems where these ions do not leave their host dielectrics. The same assumption makes them inappropriate in simulations where these ions cross dielectric boundaries because the interaction energy of the point charge with the polarization charge induced on the dielectric boundary diverges. In this paper, we propose a procedure to treat the passage of such ions through dielectric interfaces with an interpolation method. Inspired by the "bubble ion" model (in which the ion's surface is polarizable), we define a space-dependent effective dielectric coefficient, ε(eff)(r), for the ion that overlaps with the dielectric boundary. Then, we replace the "bubble ion" with a point charge that has an effective charge q/ε(eff)(r) and remove the portion of the dielectric boundary where the ion overlaps with it. We implement the interpolation procedure using the induced charge computation method [D. Boda, D. Gillespie, W. Nonner, D. Henderson, and B. Eisenberg, Phys. Rev. E 69, 046702 (2004)]. We analyze the various energy terms using a spherical ion passing through an infinite flat dielectric boundary as an example.     

Molecular structure of hydrogen bonded N,N′-diethylurea in non-polar solvents

IR spectroscopy and static dielectric polarization methods are used for studies on self-association of N,N′-diethylurea (DEU) in non-polar solvents. A model of the aggregation in sym-dialkylureas in which the molecules are linked by four hydrogen bonds, is proposed. The model gives satisfactory prediction of the spectroscopic and dielectric behaviour of DEU-organic solvents systems.