Piezo-,pyro- and ferroelectricity of odd-numbered polyamides: poling in a soft state, structure-property relations, and electro-active properties

• Applicant: Dr. Feipeng Wang
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2008 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 65451342

Functional polymers with electro-active properties such as piezo-, pyroand ferroelectricity are useful for transducer applications as well as challenging for research. Odd-numbered polyamides have significant potential for industrial applications. They exhibit excellent thermal stability of the piezoelectricity. Unfortunately, it is difficult to pole polyamides sufficiently because of the limited free volume available in solid polyamide films. In this project, we plan to polarize odd-numbered polyamides in a soft state (melt or solution) at high electric fields and possibly also under pressure. Our aim is to obtain ferroelectric polyamide films in which the polar amide-group dipoles are well oriented perpendicular to the film plane and which exhibit applications-relevant piezo- and pyroelectric properties. We will study structural transformations upon poling as well as relationships between relevant poling parameters and electro-active properties. Furthermore, we will apply soft-state poling to other ferroelectric polymers.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• Host: Professor Dr.-Ing. Reimund Gerhard