Halogen precursor polymers to poly[(2,3-diphenyl-p-phenylene)vinylene] (DP-PPV) are examined for use as advanced capacitor dielectrics. The polymer is demonstrated to function as a good dielectric until it reaches a set temperature determined by the stability of the leaving groups. Conjugation of the polymer backbone at high temperature effectively disables the capacitor, providing a 'built-in' safety mechanism for electronic devices.