Temperature Control of P(VDF-TrFE) Copolymer Thin Films

Ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) [P(VDF-TrFE)] (70/30) copolymer thin films were prepared by spin-coating method. The microstructure and morphology of P(VDF-TrFE) thin films annealed at different temperatures (70 degrees C-160 degrees C) were investigated by atom force microscope and X-ray diffraction techniques, which reveal the crystallization of P(VDF-TrFE) films is greatly affected by the annealing temperature. With the increase of annealing temperature, the grains of P(VDF-TrFE) thin film change from small spheroids to long needle-like structures. The most rapid change occurs between 136 degrees C-140 degrees C. The surface roughness and the grain size of P(VDF-TrFE) film show similar change with the annealing temperature.