Broadband Dielectric Spectrometer For Research and Research-Related Education On Polymer Dielectric Materials

Abstract This proposal requests support for the acquisition of high sensitivity dielectric (impedance) analyzers to augment and enhance the investigation of DoD – supported research at Penn State University. In particular, the requested high sensitivity and high voltage analyzers will have an important immediate impact on a new ONR – supported program ['Interdisciplinary and Industrial Approaches to the Development of Advanced Film Capacitors', Contract No.: N00014-14-C-0205, $2.6M/3 years (Program managers: P. Armistead and M. Anderson). We are requested support to purchase a multifunctional dielectric spectrometer, a Novocontrol Concept 40 broadband system, as well as a Novocontrol HVB-4000 high voltage test interface and associated BDS 1200-HV-2k high voltage sample cell. The HVB 4000 features excellent general-purpose performance and is particularly optimized for broadband high voltage measurements of low loss dielectrics. In addition, the proposed instrumentation will facilitate new high quality research on ongoing ONR– supported research programs of other Penn State faculty through: a) ONR Grant No. N000141110239, 'High Performance Organic Photovoltaics from Fully Conjugated Block Copolymers', b) ONR Grant No. N000141110342, 'Rational Design and Synthesis of Novel Ferroelectric Polymer Composites for Navy High Energy Density Capacitors', and c) ONR Grant No. N00014-11-1-0324, 'Polar-polymer Combinations - Ultrahigh Energy Density with Low-Loss and Broad Operation Temperature for Navy Pulse Power Capacitors'. The requested equipment will also support a recent AFOSR MURI entitled 'Plasma-Based Reconfigurable Photonic Crystals and Metamaterials' (Subaward No. 60803371-1114411) on which Penn State faculty are two of the senior co- PIs.