Electrical functionalities of poly(n-hexyl isocyanate) in solid phase

We report electrical functionalities of a rigid rod-like helical polymer, poly(n-hexyl isocyanate) (PHIC), in the solid state. Our experimental results of a displacement (D)-field (E) hysteresis and a measurement of pyroelectric signal proved that the PHIC system was electrically active. From the D-E hysteresis loop, coercive field and remanent polarization were determined to be 6.8MV/m and 3.0 mC/m(2), respectively, at 80 degrees C. The pyroelectric coefficient was 9.5 mC/m(2) K for the sample for which the poling treatment was conducted at 80 degrees C with the field 20 MV/m. The dipole ordering of the C=O dipoles attached to the main chain was responsible for these electrical activities. Relatively small amounts of the remanent polarization and the pyroelectric coefficient possibly resulted from the short-range dipole ordering in the noncrystalline phase. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.