Pyroelectric activity in Langmuir-Blodgett multilayer assemblies

The pyroelectric effect in Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) alternate layer films of 22-tricosenoic acid and 1-docosylamine and films of an organo-ruthenium complex (ruthenium (η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)-(b triphenylphosphine) 4-heptadecoxybenzonitrile hexafluoro-phosphate) is reported. Methods of increasing the pyroelectric response and thermal stability of the films are discussed. Values of the quasi-static pyroelectric coefficient as high as 17 μCm^-2 K^-1 have been achieved. The figures of merit of these films incorporated in a room-temperature thermal imaging device are presented, one of which is in excess of those for VDF/TrFE copolymer films