Blends of a ferroelectric polymer (P(VDF-TrFE)) and conjugated polymers were used to fabricate resistive non-volatile memories[1]. The operation mechanism relies on the existence of a lateral phase separation between the two components, with the ferroelectric domains polarization affecting the charge injection barrier, and with an assumed sharp interface between the two polymers domains. By making use of a thermally crosslinkable conjugated polymer, we have directly studied the interface, exposed upon selective removal of the ferroelectric material, by combining AFM and XPS spectroscopy, evidencing a lateral phase separation but also the existence of a mixed/diffuse interface [2]. Photophysical studies were also carried out for this blend system, evidencing the photoluminescence quenching by the ferroelectric polymer.

References
[1] K. Asadi, D. M. de Leeuw, B. de Boer, P. W. M. Blom, Nature Materials. 2008, 7, 547.
[2] T. Braz, Q. Ferreira, A. L. Mendonça, A. M. Ferraria, A. M. B. do Rego, J, Morgado, J. Phys. Chem. C., DOI: 10.1021/jp509620a

Acknowledgments: We thank Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT-Portugal) for financial support under the projects PEst-OE/EEI/LA0008/2013 and PTDC/CTM-NAN/116931/2010 and for a PhD grant to TB and a Postdoc grant to QF.