Structural, optical, and electrical properties of ferroelectric copolymer of vinylidenefluoride doped with Rhodamine 6G dye

Abstract

An effect of Rhodamine 6G dye introduced into vinylidenefluoride and tetrafluoroethylene copolymer on a number of its structural and electrical characteristics has been detected. It was shown that at film crystallization, the inserted dopant shifts the equilibrium distribution of isomers to the side of increasing concentrations of chains with the conformation of a planar zigzag. The dye introduced strongly increases ac conductivity, especially at high electric fields. The investigation of high voltage polarization under bipolar external field conditions shows slow switching of gigantic current which is observed at fields lower than coercive ones. The estimation of the charge density indicates the non-ferroelectric nature of the phenomenon observed. The analysis of the data shows that in the system, Maxwell–Wagner relaxation processes take place, which lead to the space charge formation in the polymer matrix. It is established that current switching observed must be attributed to the relaxation of the space charge field.