Nanodielectrics: A "Universal" Panacea for Solving All Electrical Insulation Problems?

At times new paradigms are observed to emerge. One example of this concerns the introduction of the concept of “Nanodielectrics” in 2001. It is often demeaned that with new concepts must come new ways of thinking, opened-minded consideration and unbounded exploration. In this spirit, an activity of high-creative intensity was organized at Hydro-Québec’s research institute (IREQ) on October 31st, 2008. A very diversified crowd of international scientists gathered at IREQ to exchange and reflect on the topic. An opportunity to be seized to break the established precincts and, to question and imagine the potentialities. Provocative at times, the comments and views were only meant to elicit the progress of our thinking. The present paper does not summarize the proceedings of the event that came to be known as the “Brainstorm at the institute”. This paper offers a broad and diverse view of the topic, with many remaining questions of importance and feeded by recent progress and further reflection. Although long, the paper gives a vivid picture of the situation allowing criticism and stressing the many unanswered questions. Multidisciplinary zest is obvious. Most of the participants joined in this new adventure. The list of authors is given at the end with an indication of their respective contribution. In view of the great number of authors, no effort was undertaken to reconcile the styles. The end product is a result of a participatory effort, and every bit does not need to be guarantied and accepted by all. The paper benefited particularly from the contributions of some scientists stranger to the usual field, namely A. Vijh, L. Utracki and H. Alamdari. Ashok Vijh joined us with his background in electrochemistry and has enlightened us with analogies of other fields concepts and applications (Chapter II). Leszek Utracki, a polymer scientist of many talents, has taught us by linking the polymeric context of nanocomposites to the dielectric properties. He has produced Chapter III. This would have been a logical determining cobblestone just after the introduction of the concept in 2001. This somewhat warranted a welcomed longer contribution.Finally, Houshang Alamdari is back in the mist of academic research. He was associated with the nanodielectrics from the beginning. For this paper, he introduced a non-electrotechnical application based on a nanodielectric material (Chapter VIII, section B).