Ferroelectric Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Homopolymer Nanotubes Derived from Solution in Anodic Alumina Membrane Template

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) homopolymer nanotube array with the desired ferroelectric beta-phase is fabricated in an anodic alumina membrane (AAM) template. The results indicate that the hydrogen bonds between the AAM surface hydroxyl groups and PVDF molecules promote the formation of the beta phase. A significantly improved effective piezoelectric coefficient d(33) of -19.2 pm/V is obtained over the thin film counterpart with a solid substrate.