Switching Kinetics of Ferroelectric Nanomesas

Christina M. Othon, Wesleyan University
Jihee Kim, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Stephen Ducharme, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Vladamir M. Fridkin, Russian Academy of Sciences

Abstract

The switching dynamics and switching time of ferroelectric nanomesas grown from the paraelectric phase of ultrathin Langmuir-Blodgett vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene copolymer films are investigated. Ferroelectric nanomesas are created through heat treatment and self organization, and have an average height 10 nm and an average diameter 100 nm. Ferroelectric nanomesas are highly crystalline and in the ferroelectric phase and switch faster than 50 microseconds. The dependence of switching time on applied voltage implies an extrinsic switching nature.