Dielectric Materials

What is a Dielectric Material?

A dielectric material is a type of insulator which becomes polarized

when it comes in contact with an electrical field.

• Dielectric materials supports an electrostatic field even though it is

not a conductor of electricity.
• Dielectric materials can have permanent electric Dipole moment.
• These materials exist in solid, liquid and gaseous forms.
• Example:- Ceramic, Plastic, Dry air, Distilled water, etc.
 Polarization of dielectric molecules
Electric Field E -
Polarized molecules with
positive and negative
Ions -

• In the presence of external electric field, the molecules

align their dipole moments along its own direction.
• The electric charges slightly shift from their average
equilibrium positions, causing dielectric polarization.
• Positive charges flow in the direction of the field and
negative charges shift in the opposite direction.
• This yields an internal electric field that reduces the
overall electric field in the dielectric.
Figure:- The polarization of dielectric molecules
when the electric field is applied.
Following are the properties exhibited by the dielectric materials:
• Low electrical conductivity
• No free electrons to carry current.
• Large energy gap.
• Negative Temperature coefficient of resistance.
• High Insulation resistance is high.
• High resistivity.

• PVA – Polyvinyl Alcohol

• PMMA –Polymethyl Methacrylate
• PS – Polystyrene
• PVP – Polyvinylpyrrolidone
Figure: - Structure of polymer dielectric materials
 What is Dielectric Constant?
Dielectric constant [ε-epsilon] is a quantity measuring the ability of a substance / material to
store electrical energy in an electric field.

It is the ratio of the  permittivity of a substance [C] to the permittivity of free space[Cₒ].
Where, A = area of the dielectric, t = thickness of the dielectric layer.
Equation

The dielectric constant is therefore also known as the relative permittivity of the material.
Organic Dielectrics Inorganic Dielectrics

Material Dielectric constant Material Dielectric constant

Polystyrene 2.6 Air 1
PMMA 3.5 SiO2 ~3.9
PVP 6.4 Al2O3 ~10.0
PVA 10 TiO2 ~21
BCB 2.65 Ta2O5 ~25
SiN ~7
 Organic vs Inorganic Dielectric materials

Organic dielectric materials

• Easy to process in device, smooth surface
• Flexible, low surface trap density, no pin holes
• High thermal stability Flexible Polymer
• Low cost processing Organic Dielectric
material
Inorganic dielectric materials
• Difficult to process
• Brittle
• Low thermal stability
• High cost and tedious processing

Inorganic dielectric
Smartwatch material: Silicon Wafer

Flexible electronic circuits, displays, and sensors based on organic active materials will enable future
generations of electronics products that may eventually enter the mainstream electronics market.