Towards the optimisation of pyroelectric organo-metallic superlattices

We report on the pyroelectric activity of Langmuir-Blodgett superlattices of three organo-ruthenium complexes. The effects of the molecular dipole moment and film structure on the pyroelectric response are discussed. Mixing the organo-ruthenium complexes with behenic acid was found to increase the pyroelectric response. The counter ion within each complex was also found to significantly alter the response. Results indicate that the structural quality of the films, their ionic nature and their molecular dipole moments influence the physical mechanisms by which the pyroelectric response arises in such superlattices. Indeed, by improving the structural quality of the film, a coefficient of 2.7μCm-2K-1 has been obtained for one of the novel complexes. © 1991, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.