Ferroelectric polymers and their applications

Abstract

The piezoelectric and pyroelectric polymer poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVF2) was recently classified as a polymeric ferroelectric. The physical properties of PVF2 are reviewed to justify this definition. Applications are classified on the basis of transduction mechanism including electrical to mechanical, mechanical to electrical, thermal to mechanical, thermal to electrical, and optical to mechanical. Applications in each of these classifications are surveyed, and advantages and disadvantages of using polymeric ferroelectrics rather than more conventional materials are described.