Fabrication and characterization of ferroelectric poly (vinylidene fluoride -CO-trifluoroethylene) nanodots

Abstract

We demonstrated a facile route to fabricate ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoridetrifluoroethylene), P(VDF-TrFE), nanodots from spincoated thin films. Importantly, the discrete P(VDFTrFE) nanodots possessed high degree of β-phase [F(β) > 60%] when compared to the fraction of β- phase in thin films [F(β) = 51%]. P(VDF-TrFE) nanodots of 51.4 ± 10.6 nm in height and 172.75 ± 40.5 nm in diameter displayed superior piezoresponse values (18.1 ± 3.3 pm/V) and a low coercive voltage (2.4 ± 0.5V). This offers our rationale for a great promise in non-volatile memories, infrared sensor arrays and artificial skin applications. Copyright © (2012) by the International Measurement Federation (IMEKO).