Micro FTIR Mapping of Nanometer Ferroelectric Polymer Films

Abstract

Summary: Highly crystalline ferroelectric polymer films [vinyidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene, β‐P(VDF‐TrFE), 260–15 nm thick] were characterized with FTIR reflectance‐transmission microspectroscopy (FTIR‐RTM) mapping technique (400 µm × 400 µm spatial resolution). The amorphous and crystalline fractions were identified locally. FTIR‐RTM maps (1 cm2 area) provided a unique in‐depth view of the ultrathin films. Lower film thickness suppressed growth of the crystalline phase. Increased content of amorphous phase lead to non‐uniform films with degraded ferroelectric behavior.

Infrared spectra and ferro‐electricity of ultra‐thin films of vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene copolymer

“…Ferroelectric polymer of vinylidene fluoride and its copolymers with trifluoroethylene have been intensively studied for more than 20 years. In the last 10 years,1–15 the ferroelectric and related properties of these polymers with nanometer‐scale thickness have been investigated. It has been found that there is a significant decrease of remanent polarization and crystallinity in the thickness region below 100 nm 3, 4, 14.…”

“…These results suggest that the interaction between sample and substrate significantly affects the orientation of the molecular chains of the polymers. In our previous paper,15 the infrared spectroscopic mappings of nanometer ferroelectric polymer films using a Fourier transform infrared reflectance transmission microspectroscopy (FTIR‐RTM) mapping technique were presented and it was shown that the lower film thickness suppressed growth of the crystalline phase and that the increased content of amorphous phase led to non‐uniform films with degraded ferroelectric behavior.…”

Evaluation of bioreactor-cultivated bone by magnetic resonance microscopy and FTIR microspectroscopy

“…Cryo-sections (~8 μm thick) of HFBR tissue were placed on low-emissivity reflective glass slides (Kevley Technologies, Chesterland, OH) and stored in a desiccant dryer prior to being analyzed by FTIR reflectance-transmission microspectroscopy (FTIR-RTM) mapping (44,45). The low-emissivity highly reflective slides were used because their mirror-like coating reflects the infrared beam back through the thin section to yield reflection-transmission spectra, which are equivalent to "normal" absorption spectra after transforming them to absorbance without any mathematical correction (44)(45)(46).…”

“…The low-emissivity highly reflective slides were used because their mirror-like coating reflects the infrared beam back through the thin section to yield reflection-transmission spectra, which are equivalent to "normal" absorption spectra after transforming them to absorbance without any mathematical correction (44)(45)(46). The FTIR-RTM measurements were performed with a Nicolet Magna-IR 550 FTIR spectrophotometer interfaced to a Nic Plan microscope (Thermo Nicolet, Inc., Madison, WI).…”