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In this work, well-defined low aspect ratio nanostructures based on nanogratings on thin films of poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) copolymers were prepared. By using these nanogratings, an improved management of writing and reading information of about 500 Gbit/in.2 (0.01 bit/nm2) can be reached as revealed by Piezoresponse Force Microscopy. Structural investigation by means of X-ray diffraction techniques indicates that the physical confinement generated by nanoimprint promotes the development of smaller and edge-on oriented crystals. Our results evidence that one-dimensional nanostructuring can be a straightforward approach to improve the control of the polarization in ferroelectric polymer thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we present a novel, simple, and versatile experimental setup aimed to perform wide angle x-ray scattering (WAXS) measurements alone or in simultaneous combination with small angle x-ray scattering measurements. The design of the WAXS goniometer allows one to obtain high resolution diffraction patterns in a broad angular range. The setup can incorporate a hot stage in order to evaluate temperature resolved experiments. The performance of the equipment has been verified in the BM16 beam line of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility with different well known samples such as alumina, isotropic film of high density polyethylene (HDPE), and oriented HPDE fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The melting transition of a model semicrystalline polymer has been detected by the microcantilever deflection as a function of temperature. Deflection measurements were done on arrays of 8-cantilevers spin coated with the semicrystalline polymer: poly (propylene azelate). The melting of the polymer has been corroborated by grazing incidence wide angle x-ray scattering experiments performed with synchrotron radiation over a single cantilever. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]