| AVS 60th International Symposium and Exhibition | |
| Electronic Materials and Processing | Thursday Sessions |
| Session EM-ThP |
| Session: | Electronic Materials and Processing Poster Session |
| Presenter: | N. Dawson, University of New Mexico |
| Authors: | N. Dawson, University of New Mexico K. Malloy, University of New Mexico |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Poly(vinylidene fluoride) has been studied extensively owing to both its ferroelectric properties and its usefulness as a porous membrane. Its large polarization response makes PVDF a promising material for electrical applications in digital memory, super capacitors, and electrocaloric coolers. These and other applications of PVDF require high quality thin films. While there are different ways to deposit thin polymer films, spin coating is particularly attractive due to its affordability and ubiquitous use in industry. Understanding the processes occurring under varying conditions during spin coating of PVDF is therefore important. Humid environments have been shown to affect the morphology and crystallinity of spin coated PVDF films. In this presentation we use in situ optical reflectance to present evidence that film formation during spin coating in a humid environment is controlled by liquid-liquid and solid-liquid phase separation similar to the demixing seen in the vapor induced phase separation and immersion techniques used to create PVDF membranes. This enables real-time identification of the film formation processes, suggesting that monitoring of optical reflectivity is a basis for process control during spin coating and hence tailoring of film morphology for specific applications.