Pyroelectric properties of synthetic polypeptide films

Abstract Several members of a new family of synthetic polypeptide polymers in form of gelatin thick films (20-80 μm thick) were studied for possible sensor applications. In the present paper the properties of a triglycerol-gelatin film are reported. The pyroelectric properties of the film were examined by using the Byer-Roundy and dynamic Chynoweth technique in the temperature range from −100°C to +60°C. The pyroelectric current measured by the Byer-Roundy method is heavily dominated by the thermally stimulated currents. However, the dynamic technique of Chynoweth revealed a true reversible pyroelectric response of the film. The value of the observed pyroelectric coefficient was found to be comparable to that of PVDF, the best known pyroelectric and piezoelectric polymer material.