Recent Developments in Ferroelectric Polymers

Abstract For decades, organic polymers were important only as insulators in the electornic industries. Research on electroactive properties was confined mainly to inorganic materials such as barium titanate, lead zirconate titanate, quartz, silicon, cadmium sulfide, and gallium arsenide. In the 198s, organic polymers emerged as a new class of electronic materials and challenged earlier technologies based on inorganic materials. The superiority of organic polymeric materials lies in their versatility and in the possibility of tailoring materials for a particualr end-use. Organic polymers offer several advantages over inorganic materials: They are lighweight, flexible, and tough. They can be obtained in the form of ultrathin films, fiber, and even liquid crystals. They can be easily transformed into the desired configuartion. Their physical properties can be controlled over a wide range by appropriate chemical modifications. Some of them are biocompatible and hence can be utilized in biological processes.