Deoxyribonucleic acid-based hybrid thin films for potential application as high energy density capacitors

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) based hybrid films incorporating sol-gel-derived ceramics have shown strong promise as insulating dielectrics for high voltage capacitor applications. Our studies of DNA-CTMA (cetyltrimethylammonium) complex/sol-gel ceramic hybrid thin film devices have demonstrated reproducibility and stability in temperature-and frequency-dependent dielectric properties with dielectric constant k similar to 5.0 (1 kHz), as well as reliability in DC voltage breakdown measurements, attaining values consistently in the range of 300-350 V/mu m. The electrical/dielectric characteristics of DNA-CTMA films with sol-gel-derived ceramics were examined to determine the critical energy storage parameters such as voltage breakdown and dielectric constant. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.