Preparation and characterization of poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) copolymer nanowires and nanotubes

Poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) copolymer [(P(VDF-TrFE)] nanowires and nanotubes have been fabricated by a template technique. The morphology of the nanowires and nanotubes was studied by scanning electron microscopy, and the diameter of the nanowires and nanotubes was found to be in range of 55-360 nm. X-ray diffraction shows that the nanowires and nanotubes have the same crystal structure as that of P(VDF-TrFE) bulk sample. Relative permittivity measurements as a function of temperature reveal a ferroelectric-to-paraelectric phase transition, implying that ferroelectricity is still maintained in the nanowires and nanotubes. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.