English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Herein, we elucidate the impact of tubular confinement on the structure andrelaxation behaviour of poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) and how these affectthe para-/ferroelectric behavior of this polymer. We use PVDF nanotubes thatwere solidified in anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. Dielectricspectroscopy measurements evidence a bimodal relaxation process for PVDFnanotubes: besides the bulk-like -relaxation, we detect a notably slowerrelaxation that is associated with the PVDF regions of restricted dynamics atthe interface with the AAO pore. Strickingly, both the bulk-like and theinterfacial relaxation tend to become temperature independent as thetemperature increases - a behavior that has been observed before in inorganicrelaxor ferroelectrics. In line with this, we observe that the real part of thedielectric permittivity of the PVDF nanotubes exhibits a broad maximum whenplotted against the temperature, which is, again, a typical feature of relaxorferroelectrics. As such, we propose that in nanotubular PVDF,ferroelectric-like nanodomains are formed in the amorphous phase regionsadjacent to the AAO interface. These ferroelectric nanodomains may result froman anisotropic chain conformation and a preferred orientation of local dipolesdue to selective H-bond formation between the PVDF macromolecues and the AAOwalls. Such relaxor-ferroelectric-like behaviour has not been observed fornon-irradiated PVDF homopolymer; our findings thus may enable in the futurealternative applications for this bulk commodity plastic, e.g., for theproduction of electrocaloric devices for solid-state refrigeration whichbenefit from a relaxor-ferroelectric-like response.

Relaxations and Relaxor-Ferroelectric-Like Response of Nanotubularly Confined Poly(vinylidene fluoride)