Chemical and Biomolecular Research Papers -- Faculty Authors Series
Date of this Version
12-29-2003
Citation
Applied Physics Letters (2003) 83(26): 5,410-5,412
doi: 10.1063/1.1637145
Abstract
In this letter, we demonstrate that, at mesoscales, nonferroelectric liquid films of poly(dimethyl siloxane) exhibit significant electrostriction not present in the corresponding bulk state. Remarkably, the observed electrostrictive effect has a response time < 20 μs in contrast to > 5 ms recorded in conventional bulk (ferroelectric) polymers. The emergence of this fast electrostrictive strain in thin films is explained in terms of the amalgamation of two contrasting dynamic features—the influence of a highly mobile, viscous layer (at the air/film interface) on the less-mobile, but fast responding, solid-like layer at the film/substrate interface. The effect is observed for thickness below 200 nm.
Comments
Copyright © 2003, American Institute of Physics. Used by permission