Discipline: Physics
Subcategory: Materials Science
Erika Sanchez - California State University San Bernardino
Co-Author(s): Taylor Dixon, California State University San Bernardino; Francisco Guzman, California State University San Bernardino
Ferroelectric materials have demonstrated diverse technological applications, with thin films of particular interest. Croconic Acid, an organic ferroelectric, is promising due to its economic, scalable production and large ferroelectric polarization. The films are prepared in a thermal deposition chamber under an ultrahigh vacuum system at a pressure of at least 1×10^-7 Torr. The bulk material is heated at about 130°C to 140°C. During the deposition, electric field guidance is utilized in order to promote the alignment of Croconic Acid molecules as they make their way to an ultra-flat substrate. Here we present results on room temperature growth of Croconic Acid thin films using two different methods to create an electric field in order to achieve a high quality smooth surface film. One method was using a mesh screen and the other was using a metal washer in order to create an electric field, each of an equal strength of 2kV. Atomic force microscopy was used to assess film thickness and surface structure and roughness.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): CREST , NSF
Faculty Advisor: Sara Callori, sara.callori@csusb.edu
Role: I prepared the thin films and characterized their surface roughness using the AFM.