Pyroelectric Properties of BaxSr(1−x)TiO3/PVDF-TrFE Coating on Silicon

Bilayer coatings of barium strontium titanate (BaxSr(1−x)TiO3)/poly [(vinylidenefluoride-co-trifluoroethylene] (PVDF-TrFE) were integrated on silicon Si (100) for pyroelectric devices. Pyroelectric properties of the composite were determined for different electrode materials (silver and aluminum) and different electrodes configurations creating an electric field in parallel and in-plane direction in the ferroelectric coating. For this purpose, parallel-plate and planar interdigital capacitors were fabricated. Anisotropy in the pyroelectric response was noted for the different directions of the measured electrical potential. The dynamic method was used to evaluate the pyroelectric properties in the temperature range of 22 to 48 °C. Pyroelectric response with a higher value was observed at the one plate’s configuration of interdigital electrodes. The voltage response was the strongest when silver contacts were used. At temperatures near room temperature, the voltage increased by 182 µV at resolution of 7 µV/°C for the in-plain device configuration, vs. 290 µV at a resolution of 11 µV/°C for the out-of-plain configuration. A relationship between the surface morphology of the ferroelectric oxide and oxide/polymer coating and the pyroelectric voltage was also found, proving the smoothening effect of the introduction of polymer PVDF-TrFE over the BaSrTiO3 grains.

Ferroelectric behavior in paracrystalline poly(vinyl trifluoroacetate)

Dielectric behavior in paracrystalline poly(vinyl trifluoroacetate) was investigated from the viewpoint of ferroelectricity. This polymer has a large CF3 dipole moment (2.3 Debye) and structural defects due to the atactic sequence in its chain conformation. It is possible to rotate the dipoles in paracrystals with defects under high electric field. The dielectric behavior was measured from 20 to 200 °C. A large dielectric constant and dielectric relaxation strength (Δε = 17 at 110 °C) were observed in the α-relaxation region. Corona poling on the samples was carried out at DC field 80 MV/m and 80 °C. Ferroelectric D–E hysteresis loop was observed under high electric field, and the remanent polarization and coercive field at 40 °C were 15 mC/m2 and 155 MV/m, respectively. Pyroelectric response and thermally stimulated current were measured from the current through the electrode irradiated by a pulsed semiconductor laser. A pyroelectric constant of about 6 μC/m2K was observed, which was stable up to near the poling temperature. The ferroelectricity in poly(vinyltrifluoroacetate) stems from the rotation of molecular chains in its paracrystals and orientation of the CF2 dipoles. Poly(vinyltrifluoroacetate) dielectrics can be used for capacitors with high power density, artificial skins, muscles and other flexible electronics.

Simulation of Nonlinear Pyroelectric Response of Ferroelectrics near Phase Transition: Fractional Differential Approach

The paper is devoted to mathematical modeling pyroelectric current of ferroelectric single crystal under the conditions of intensive light heating in view of fractal behavior of these materials. The proposed approach is based on numerical simulation of thermal distribution in a ferroelectric sample using time fractional operator as well as computation of pyroelectric response. The simulation results for typical TGS ferroelectric crystal were described in one-dimensional case of the model in comparison with experimental data. Pyroelectric signals depending on temperature pyroelectric coefficient and thermal physical characteristics were also analyzed.

Sensing Ability of Ferroelectric Oxide Nanowires Grown in Templates of Nanopores

Nanowires of ferroelectric potassium niobate were grown by filling nanoporous templates of both side opened anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) through radiofrequency vacuum sputtering for multisensor fabrication. The precise geometrical ordering of the AAO matrix led to well defined single axis oriented wire-shaped material inside the pores. The sensing abilities of the samples were studied and analyzed in terms of piezoelectric and pyroelectric response and the results were compared for different length of the nanopores (nanotubes)—1.3 µm, 6.3 µm and 10 µm. Based on scanning electronic microscopy, elemental and microstructural analyses, as well as electrical measurements at bending and heating, the overall sensing performance of the devices was estimated. It was found that the produced membrane type elements, consisting potassium niobate grown in AAO template exhibited excellent piezoelectric response due to the increased specific area as compared to non-structured films, and could be further enhanced with the nanowires length. The piezoelectric voltage increased linearly with 16 mV per micrometer of nanowire’s length. At the same time the pyroelectric voltage was found to be less sensitive to the nanowires length, changing its value at 400 nV/µm. This paper provides a simple and low-cost approach for nanostructuring ferroelectric oxides with multisensing application, and serves as a base for further optimization of template based nanostructured devices.

Pyroelectric response in the Langmuir–Blodgett fabricated artificial polymer multilayers

Ferroelectric poly(vinylidenefluoride-trifluoroethylene) [P(VDF-TrFE)] copolymer, poly(vinylidenefluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorofloroethlene) [P(VDF-TrFE-CFE)] terpolymer and P(VDF-TrFE)/P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) multilayers were fabricated by Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) technique. The microstructure, ferroelectric and pyroelectric properties of these films were investigated. In [Formula: see text] multilayer, an enhancement of pyroelectric performance was observed compared with [Formula: see text] multilayer and P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) film. The results indicate that the internal electric field due to polarization mismatch has a dominating contribution from the view of electrostatic coupling.