Fabrication and electro-optic properties of ferroelectric nanocrystal/polymer composite films

W. C. Liu, A. D. Li, Chee Leung Mak, K. H. Wongt

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BaTiO3 (BTO), Pb(Zr0.52Tio.48)03 (PZT), and Sr 1-., xBa, Nb2O6 (SBN; × = 0.5, 0.4, and 0.25) nanocrystal-doped polycarbonate (PC) composite thin films were prepared by a spin-coating method. Ultrafine BTO and PZT nanocrystals of pure tetragonal perovskite phase were synthesized by a hydrothermal method, while the rodlike SBN nanocrystals of pure tetragonal tungsten-bronze structure were prepared by the Pechini method. To produce better electro-optic (EO) properties through creation of noncentrosymmetry in the samples, the composite films were poled under a high electric field at suitable temperatures. Their EO coefficients as well as transmittance spectra were measured. Both BTO/PC and PZT/PC composite films showed excellent EO properties with high EO coefficients and large figures of merit. However, SBN/PC composite films established relatively small EO coefficients due to the small transverse EO coefficients of SBN single crystals. On the basis of our results, we demonstrate that these ferroelectric nanocrystal/polymer composite films are good candidates for EO applications.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)14202-14208
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry C
Volume112
Issue number36
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 Sept 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • General Energy

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