Scalable room-temperature dielectric switchable composites with giant contrast ratio and great cycle stability

Room-temperature dielectric switching materials are highly desirable for many potential industrial applications in smart electronic/electrical engineering fields, but they suffer from key limitation of poor integration of remarkable dielectric switching properties, promising scalability, and low cost. Here, a general solution to solve this problem is demonstrated to attain an excellent cost/performance balance. By mixing ionic liquids (ILs) with polyethylene glycol (PEG), an all-organic composite enables an ultrahigh dielectric switching ratio above 320.6 at 34.2 Hz, almost 100% dielectric constant retention after 500 cycles, the highest attainable to a similar to 35 degrees C wide thermal hysteresis loop, and tunable dielectric transition temperature. Also, the PEG/ILs can defeat the conflict of dielectric switching properties versus cost, namely impressive dielectric switching properties are achieved through simple mixing of commercialized components without solvent. The findings offer promise for highly efficient, scalable, low-cost, and environmentally friendly preparation of high-performance room-temperature dielectric switching materials.

Automated summary

A general solution is demonstrated to attain an excellent cost/performance balance in room-temperature dielectric switching materials by mixing ionic liquids with polyethylene glycol. The resulting all-organic composite exhibits ultrahigh dielectric switching properties, high retention rate, wide thermal hysteresis loop, and tunable transition temperature. It also overcomes the conflict between dielectric switching properties and cost.