Highly Oriented Organic Ferroelectric Films with Single-Crystal-Level Properties from Restrained Crystallization
[1];
[3]
- Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE (United States). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy; University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE (United States). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
- Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE (United States). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy; Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE (United States). Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience
Device applications often require thin film growth with quasi-two-dimensional morphology and crystallization which are not always compatible. In this work, we exploit the method of low-temperature deposition followed by restrained crystallization (LDRC) in the growth of crystalline organic molecular thin films, which tend to grow three-dimensionally with random orientations. We demonstrate that, for 2-methylbenzimidazole (MBI), a molecular ferroelectric that tends to crystalize in spherulites, the quasi-two-dimensional films can be grown using LDRC with highly oriented polar axes and single-crystal-level ferroelectric properties. The crystallization process was shown to occur during the post-deposition annealing process using the in situ electrical measurements. The limited diffusion, low nucleation density, and low activation energy was found critical for the formation of the plate-shaped quasi-two-dimensional films. These results mark an important step in elucidating the LDRC as an effective and general approach for fabricating films with balanced crystallinity and morphology which are critical for applications.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0019173
- OSTI ID:
- 1866597
- Journal Information:
- Crystal Growth and Design, Journal Name: Crystal Growth and Design Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 22; ISSN 1528-7483
- Publisher:
- American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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