Electric field dependence of topography in ferroelectric P(VDF/TrFE) films

The effect of electric fields on the topography and structures in P(VDF/TrFE) ferroelectric films was studied. The morphological changes after poling treatment at 25 degrees C, from previously chrysanthemum-like structures to regular and parallel slug-like domains, were observed by scanning probe microscope. Poling process at higher temperature induced even greater morphological changes. Imaging of local electrical properties showed that these changes could not be attributed to the influence of local charges injected into film surface during poling process. It was believed that this new morphology came from the reform of film structures induced by electric fields. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.