Mapping Surface Polarization in Thin Films of the Ferroelectric Polymer P(VDF-TrFE).

Authors

Bradley W. Peterson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Stephen Ducharme, University of NebraskaFollow
Vladimir M. Fridkin, Institute of Crystallography, Russian Academy of Sciences, MoscowFollow
Timothy J. Reece, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2004

Abstract

Pyroelectric Scanning Microscopy (PSM) has been developed to enable mapping of surface polarization in ferroelectric thin films, in particular the copolymer polyvinylidene fluoride trifluororethylene, or P(VDF-TrFE). The Chynoweth method for dynamically measuring pyroelectric current is employed in conjunction with a micropositioning system to construct two-dimensional images of the film polarization. These images have revealed enhancement of the polarization near the edges of the film below the average coercive field, with the center's polarization increasing thereafter to meet the edge value at saturation.