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The Maxwell–Wagner effect, the enhanced charge migration to the interface of a stack of two dielectrics with different conductances, is shown to cause asymmetric leakage current and electrical breakdown behavior for different electrode polarities. For this purpose, metal-insulator-silicon capacitors were fabricated consisting of bilayered silicon dioxide–lanthanum zirconate dielectric stacks. Maxwell–Wagner instability and Debye polarization can be distinguished upon comparing electron injection from both sides of the stack. The Maxwell–Wagner charges have relaxation times that are nearly five orders of magnitude larger than the Debye polarization, suggesting the long-lasting influence of these trapped charges in nanolaminated dielectric systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]