Real-time observation of self-assembling nanostructures of Langmuir-Blodgett films of vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene copolymer by Atomic Force Microscopy.

ORAL

Abstract

Annealing studies have shown that ferroelectric polymer Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films less than 10 nm thick undergo drastic morphology change after annealing in the crystalline ferroeletric phase [M. Bai \textit{et al.}, \textit{Appl. Phys. Lett. }\textbf{85}, 3528 (2004)] During annealing in the crystalline paraelectric phase, continuous films self-assemble into disk shape features, nanomesas, with approximately 9 nm thickness and 100 nm diameter. The nanomesa self-assembly was observed in real time with an Atomic Force Microscope, which was equipped with a heating stage. This results show that the nanomesas formed during annealing agree well with nanomesas observed in ferroelectric phase at room temperature after annealing in the paraelectric phase.

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Authors

  • Jihee Kim

    Physics and Astronomy at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Physics and Astronomy and Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0111

  • Stephen Ducharme

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Physics and Astronomy at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Physics and Astronomy and Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0111, Dept. of Physics \& Astronomy and Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA

  • Brian Rodriguez

    Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Sergei Kalinin

    Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, Oak Ridge National Laboratory