Coplanar switching of polarization in thin films of vinylidene fluoride oligomers

Abstract

Switching characteristics of vinylidene fluoride oligomer thin films with molecular chains aligned normal to the substrate and exhibiting a preferential in-plane polarization have been investigated using coplanar geometry of inter-digital electrodes via high-resolution piezoresponse force microscopy. It has been shown that in-plane switching proceeds via non-180° rotation of dipoles mediated by non-stochastic nucleation, expansion, and coalescence of domains. As-grown multidomain configuration is found to be strongly pinned aided by charged domain walls, and the electrically induced (in-plane) mono-domain states relax to the as-grown state. The observed coercive field (approximately 0.6 MV/m) is two to three orders of magnitude smaller than that for the oligomer films with out-of-plane polarization. It is suggested that the low steric hindrance to the rotation of molecular dipoles gives rise to the observed low coercive field.

The First Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Luminescent Multiferroic: (Pyrrolidinium)MnBr3

“…As one of the most studied electro‐optical materials, inorganic ferroelectrics have found a wide range of applications, ranging from sensors and actuators to optical and memory devices . In the past decade, a few organic–inorganic hybrid systems were also found to exhibit excellent ferroelectricity .…”

Temperature-Dependent and Bistable Current–Voltage Measurements in Zinc Porphyrin Molecular Junctions

“…For example, the electrical properties of molecules can be used to build a variety of electronic components, such as transistors, rectifiers, and amplifiers. − Another promising application is the use of molecules to mimic electrical switches. Upon applying an electric field, it has been found that some molecules can change from a high to a low conductance state due to the bistability of the molecule. − Although most of these studies have been performed using a scanning tunneling microscope (STM), very few studies have examined bistability in a two-terminal device at room temperature. Fabricating and effectively controlling the behavior of these molecular switches requires a fundamental understanding of the electronic transport across a metal–molecule–metal junction and of the origins of the bistability of the molecules. − …”

Supramolecular organic–inorganic domains integrating fullerene-based acceptors with polyoxometalate-bis-pyrene tweezers for organic photovoltaic applications

“…Further, the phase difference induced by the piezopotential is very close to 180° (Figure S7b). 42 Such a feature, already observed in LB and LS film of the known ferroelectric polymer P(VDF-TrFE) 43,44 suggests the ferroic nature of the film. Besides, piezoelectric feature proposes such a material as an interesting IFL in organic photovoltaic devices.…”