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Nanoscale domain patterns in ultrathin polymer ferroelectric films

P Sharma1, T Reece1, D Wu1,2, V M Fridkin1,3, S Ducharme1 and A Gruverman1

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High-resolution studies of domain configurations in Langmuir–Blodgett films of ferroelectric polymer poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene), P(VDF-TrFE), have been carried out by means of piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). Changes in film thickness and morphology cause significant variations in polarization patterns. In continuous films and nanomesas with relatively low thickness/grain aspect ratio (<1/10), the relationship between the average domain size and thickness follows the Kittel law. Nanomesas with high aspect ratio (>1/5) exhibit significant deviations from this law, suggesting additional surface-energy-related mechanisms affecting the domain patterns. Polarization reversal within a single crystallite has been demonstrated and local switching parameters (coercive voltage and remnant piezoresponse) have been measured by monitoring the local hysteresis loops. Reliable control of polarization at the sub-grain level demonstrates a possibility of studying the mechanism of the intrinsic switching behavior down to the molecular scale.


PACS

77.55.+f Dielectric thin films

77.80.Fm Switching phenomena

77.65.-j Piezoelectricity and electromechanical effects

77.84.Jd Polymers; organic compounds

77.80.Dj Domain structure; hysteresis

77.22.Ej Polarization and depolarization

Subjects

Soft matter, liquids and polymers

Condensed matter: electrical, magnetic and optical

Surfaces, interfaces and thin films

Dates

Issue 48 (2 December 2009)

Received 14 July 2009, in final form 5 October 2009

Published 30 October 2009



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