The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

Ferroelectric materials have attracted interest for nonvolatile memories, sensors, and actuators. Organic ferroelectrics are appealing due to solution processability, flexibility, and compatibility with large-area devices. Nylon 11 is an odd-numbered nylon exhibiting ferroelectricity from dipolar ordering along the polymer backbone. However, strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding stabilizes chains while producing a high coercive field, limiting domain switching. Here, the ferroelectric properties of Nylon 11 are improved by introducing a low concentration of amine-functionalized graphene oxide (AGO) to induce self-assembly and promote ferroelectric crystalline phases. Nylon 11 thin films containing trace AGO were prepared by solution processing and evaluated. AGO incorporation enhanced remnant polarization. These results demonstrate nanofiller-induced self-assembly as an effective strategy to overcome hydrogen-bond-related limitations and improve ferroelectric performance.