Modelling Morphology and Interfaces in Solution-processed Composites For Electrostatic Energy Storage*

In their most simple form, electrostatic capacitors consist of two conducting sheets separated by an insulator, with their ability to store charge proportional to the area of the sheets and inversely proportional to the thickness of the insulator. Spinodal decomposition in solution-processed composites has been shown to achieve large-area phase-separated morphologies, but have been developed primarily for improving the efficiencies of solar cells. In this talk, we will present models combining the morphological data from spinodally decomposed composites and polymer-nanoparticle interfaces with electronic properties of the components and heterojunctions to evaluate the fitness of solution-processed composites to improve electrostatic capacitive energy storage.