Ferroelectric Polymer Matrix for Probing Molecular Organization in Perylene Diimides

Ferroelectric films of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) (PVDF-TrFE) provide a controlled environment to study the aggregation tendency of functional molecules such as perylene diimides (PDIs). The local electric field and free volume confinement parameters offered by the matrix are tailored to study the organizational and assembly characteritics of molecular acceptors. The optical properties of planar and nonplanar PDIs in the ferroelectric polymer matrix were studied systematically over a wide range that encompassed the ferroelectric transition temperature. This approach provides valuable insight into the properties of molecular materials used in applications ranging from bulk heterostructure-based photovoltaics to nonlinear optical materials.