Multiscale kinetic model for polarization switching in ferroelectric polymer thin films

Polarization switching in ferroelectric polymers is studied using a multiscale framework. A continuum Landau-Ginzburg-Devonshire model for a first-order phase transition is parametrized for ideal all trans chains of P(VDF-TrFE) (70:30) copolymers using data obtained from molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations. Thermal fluctuations and kinetics are accounted for by using a time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau model where the length and time scales, as well as the thermal noise amplitude, are also set from MD simulations. This method is used to investigate the nature of polarization switching in ferroelectric polymers and to test recent claims that ultrathin ferroelectric polymer films undergo intrinsic switching. Our simulations show that for a defect-free system, domain nucleation due to thermal fluctuations prevents homogeneous switching of the polarization, even at very small thicknesses. However, this nucleation does not substantially decrease the coercive field compared to the intrinsic value.