@article{MellingerMellinger2011,
  author    = {Mellinger, Axel and Mellinger, Olena},
  title     = {Breakdown threshold of dielectric barrier discharges in ferroelectrets where Paschen's law fails},
  series = {IEEE transactions on dielectrics and electrical insulation},
  volume    = {18},
  journal   = {IEEE transactions on dielectrics and electrical insulation},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Inst. of Electr. and Electronics Engineers},
  address   = {Piscataway},
  issn      = {1070-9878},
  doi       = {10.1109/TDEI.2011.5704491},
  pages     = {43 -- 48},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {The piezoelectric activity of charged cellular foams (so-called ferroelectrets) is compared against simulations based on a multi-layer electromechanical model and Townsend's model of Paschen breakdown, with the distribution of void heights determined from scanning electron micrographs. While the calculated space charge hysteresis curves are in good agreement with experimental data, the onset of piezoelectric activity is observed at significantly higher electric fields than predicted by Paschen's law. One likely explanation is that the commonly accepted Paschen curve for electric breakdown in air poorly describes the critical electric field for dielectric barrier discharges in micrometer-size cavities.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{LangMellinger2005,
  author    = {Lang, Sidney B. and Mellinger, Axel},
  title     = {A package of Mathematica programs for training students in the use of LIMM and its analysis},
  year      = {2005},
  abstract  = {A package of programs written using the symbolic mathematics program, Mathematicatrademark, has been developed. Its principal usage is in teaching the LIMM method to students and demonstrating data analysis by means of the Polynomial Regularization Method (PRM). A large number of variables can be changed in the program and their effects can be shown graphically. Students at the University of Potsdam and Monash University have used the program successfully},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{Mellinger2004,
  author    = {Mellinger, Axel},
  title     = {Unbiased iterative reconstruction of polarization and space-charge profiles from thermal-wave experiments},
  issn      = {0957-0233},
  year      = {2004},
  abstract  = {The thermal-wave technique or laser-intensity modulation method is an important tool for the non-destructive probing of space-charge and polarization profiles in electrets. Analysing the experimental data requires solving a Fredholm integral equation which is known to be an ill-conditioned problem. This paper presents an iterative approach that is capable of reconstructing inherently unsmooth distributions. The deviations from the true profiles are slightly smaller than those obtained with Tikhonov regularization, while the computational burden is not a limiting factor on modem personal computers. The optimum number of iterations is estimated using the randomized generalized cross- validation technique. Results are shown for a number of model distributions, as well as for experimental data from a layered polyvinylidene fluoride film sandwich},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{HarrisMellinger2014,
  author    = {Harris, Scott and Mellinger, Axel},
  title     = {Towards a better understanding of dielectric barrier discharges in ferroelectrets: Paschen breakdown fields in micrometer sized voids},
  series = {Journal of applied physics},
  volume    = {115},
  journal   = {Journal of applied physics},
  number    = {16},
  publisher = {American Institute of Physics},
  address   = {Melville},
  issn      = {0021-8979},
  doi       = {10.1063/1.4871678},
  pages     = {5},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {Charged cellular polypropylene foams (i.e., ferro-or piezoelectrets) demonstrate high piezoelectric activity upon being electrically charged. When an external electric field is applied, dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) occur, resulting in a separation of charges which are subsequently deposited on dielectric surfaces of internal micrometer sized voids. This deposited space charge is responsible for the piezoelectric activity of the material. Previous studies have indicated charging fields larger than predicted by Townsend's model of Paschen breakdown applied to a multilayered electromechanical model; a discrepancy which prompted the present study. The actual breakdown fields for micrometer sized voids were determined by constructing single cell voids using polypropylene spacers with heights ranging from 8 to 75 mu m, "sandwiched" between two polypropylene dielectric barriers and glass slides with semi-transparent electrodes. Subsequently, a bipolar triangular charging waveform with a peak voltage of 6 kV was applied to the samples. The breakdown fields were determined by monitoring the emission of light due to the onset of DBDs using an electron multiplying CCD camera. The breakdown fields at absolute pressures from 101 to 251 kPa were found to be in good agreement with the standard Paschen curves. Additionally, the magnitude of the light emission was found to scale linearly with the amount of gas, i.e., the height of the voids. Emissions were homogeneous over the observed regions of the voids for voids with heights of 25 lm or less and increasingly inhomogeneous for void heights greater than 40 lm at high electric fields.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SinghMellinger2015,
  author    = {Singh, Rajeev and Mellinger, Axel},
  title     = {Measurement of through-thickness thermal diffusivity of thermoplastics using thermal wave method},
  series = {Indian journal of physics},
  volume    = {89},
  journal   = {Indian journal of physics},
  number    = {4},
  publisher = {Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science},
  address   = {Kolkata},
  issn      = {0973-1458},
  doi       = {10.1007/s12648-014-0579-2},
  pages     = {361 -- 368},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {Thermo-physical properties, such as thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and specific heat are important quantities that are needed to interpret and characterize thermoplastic materials. Such characterization is necessary for many applications, ranging from aerospace engineering to food packaging, electrical and electronic industry and medical science. In this work, the thermal diffusivity of commercially available polymeric films is measured in the thickness direction at room temperature using thermal wave method. The results obtained with this method are in good agreement with theoretical and experimental values.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MellingerWegenerWirgesetal.2006,
  author    = {Mellinger, Axel and Wegener, Michael and Wirges, Werner and Mallepally, Rajendar Reddy and Gerhard, Reimund},
  title     = {Thermal and temporal stability of ferroelectret films made from cellular polypropylene/air composites},
  year      = {2006},
  abstract  = {Ferroelectrets are thin films of polymer foams, exhibiting piezoelectric properties after electrical charging. Ferroelectret foams usually consist of a cellular polymer structure filled with air. Polymer-air composites are elastically soft due to their high air content as well as due to the size and shape of the polymer walls. Their elastically soft composite structure is one essential key for the working principle of ferroelectrets, besides the permanent trapping of electric charges inside the polymer voids. The elastic properties allow large deformations of the electrically charged voids. However, the composite structure can also possibly limit the stability and consequently the range of applications because of, e. g., penetration of gas and liquids accompanied by discharge phenomena or because of a mechanical pre-load which may be required during the application. Here, we discuss various stability aspects related to the piezoelectric properties of polypropylene ferroelectrets. Near and below room temperature, the piezoelectric effect and the stability of the trapped charges are practically independent from humidity during long-time storage in a humid atmosphere or water, or from operating conditions, such as continuous mechanical excitation. Thermal treatment of cellular polypropylene above -10 degrees C leads to a softening of the voided structure which is apparent from the decreasing values of the elastic modulus. This decrease results in an increase of the piezoelectric activity. Heating above 60 degrees C, however, leads to a decrease in piezoelectricity},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{QiuMellingerWirgesetal.2007,
  author    = {Qiu, Xunlin and Mellinger, Axel and Wirges, Werner and Gerhard, Reimund},
  title     = {Spectroscopic study of dielectric barrier discharges in cellular polypropylene ferroelectrets},
  doi       = {10.1063/1.2786597},
  year      = {2007},
  abstract  = {The transient light emission from the dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) in cellular polypropylene ferroelectrets subjected to high electric poling fields was spectroscopically measured. The spectrum shows strong emission from the second positive system of molecular nitrogen, N-2(C (3)Pi(u))-> N-2(B (3)Pi(g)), and the first negative system of N-2(+), N-2(+)(B (2)Sigma(+)(u))-> N-2(+)(X (2)Sigma(+)(g)), consistent with a DBD in air. When a dc voltage is applied stepwise to the ferroelectret film, light emission starts above a threshold, coinciding with the threshold voltage in obtaining piezoelectricity. From selected vibronic band strength ratios, the electric field in the discharge was determined and found to agree with Townsend breakdown.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MellingerFloresSuarezSinghetal.2006,
  author    = {Mellinger, Axel and Flores Su{\´a}rez, Rosaura and Singh, Rajeev and Wegener, Michael and Wirges, Werner and Lang, Sidney B. and Gerhard, Reimund},
  title     = {High-resolution space-charge and polarization tomography with thermal pulses},
  isbn      = {3-8007-2939-3},
  year      = {2006},
  abstract  = {Die Arbeit wurde am 13.03.2006 mit dem "BEST PAPER AWARD" des deutschen IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement (I\&M) Chapter ausgezeichnet.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{BassoAltafimAltafimetal.2007,
  author    = {Basso, Heitor Cury and Altafim, Ruy Alberto Pisani and Altafim, Ruy Alberto Pisani and Mellinger, Axel and Fang, Peng and Wirges, Werner and Gerhard, Reimund},
  title     = {Three-layer ferroelectrets from perforated Teflon-PTFE films fused between two homogeneous Teflon-FEP films},
  isbn      = {978-1-4244-1482-6},
  year      = {2007},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{QiuMellingerWirgesetal.2007,
  author    = {Qiu, Xunlin and Mellinger, Axel and Wirges, Werner and Gerhard, Reimund},
  title     = {Dielectric barrier discharges during the generation of ferroelectrets : optical spectroscopy for process monitoring},
  isbn      = {978-1-4244-1482-6},
  year      = {2007},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{QiuMellingerWegeneretal.2007,
  author    = {Qiu, Xunlin and Mellinger, Axel and Wegener, Michael and Wirges, Werner and Gerhard, Reimund},
  title     = {Barrier discharges in cellular polypropylene ferroelectrets : how do they influence the electromechanical properties?},
  year      = {2007},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MellingerFloresSuarezSinghetal.2007,
  author    = {Mellinger, Axel and Flores Su{\´a}rez, Rosaura and Singh, Rajeev and Wegener, Michael and Wirges, Werner and Gerhard, Reimund},
  title     = {Zerst{\"o}rungsfreie Tomographie von Raumladungs- und Polarisationsverteilungen mittles W{\"a}rmepulsen},
  issn      = {0171-8096},
  doi       = {10.1524/teme.2007.74.9.437},
  year      = {2007},
  abstract  = {Non-destructive, three-dimensional imaging of space-charge and polarization distributions in electret materials has been implemented by means of laser-induced thermal pulses. In pyroelectric films of poled poly(vinylidene fluoride), images of up to 45 x 45 pixels with a depth resolution of less than 0.5 mu m and a lateral resolution of 40 mu m were recorded, the latter being limited by fast thermal diffusion in the absorbing metallic front electrode. Initial applications include the analysis of polarization distributions in corona-poled piezoelectric sensor cables and the detection of patterned space-charge distributions in polytetrafluoroethylene films.},
  language  = {de}
}
@article{MellingerWegenerWirgesetal.2006,
  author    = {Mellinger, Axel and Wegener, Michael and Wirges, Werner and Mallepally, Rajendar Reddy and Gerhard, Reimund},
  title     = {Thermal and temporal stability of ferroelectret films made from cellular polypropylene/air composites},
  year      = {2006},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MellingerSinghGerhard2005,
  author    = {Mellinger, Axel and Singh, Rajeev and Gerhard, Reimund},
  title     = {Fast thermal-pulse measurements of space-charge distributions in electret polymers},
  issn      = {0034-6748},
  year      = {2005},
  abstract  = {Space-charge depth profiles in various electret polymers have been measured in both the time and the frequency domain using thermal pulses and waves, respectively. A comparison of the two techniques on corona-charged polytetrafluoroethylene showed that the thermal-pulse method yielded similar results as the thermal-wave technique, but approximately 20-50 times faster. The article discusses sensitivity limitations as well as possible applications, including the real-time monitoring of space-charge decay under UV irradiation. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MellingerSinghWegeneretal.2005,
  author    = {Mellinger, Axel and Singh, Rajeev and Wegener, Michael and Wirges, Werner and Gerhard, Reimund and Lang, Sidney B.},
  title     = {Three-dimensional mapping of polarization profiles with thermal pulses},
  issn      = {0003-6951},
  year      = {2005},
  abstract  = {High-resolution, large-area three-dimensional mapping of polarization profiles in electret polymers was carried out by means of a fast thermal pulse technique with a focused laser beam. A lateral resolution of 38 mu m and a near- surface depth resolution of less than 0.5 mu m was achieved. At larger depths, fast thermal diffusion in the metal electrode rather than the laser spot size becomes the limiting factor for the lateral resolution. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MellingerCamachoGonzalezGerhard2004,
  author    = {Mellinger, Axel and Camacho Gonz{\´a}lez, Francisco and Gerhard, Reimund},
  title     = {Photostimulated discharge in electret polymers : an alternative approach for investigating deep traps},
  year      = {2004},
  abstract  = {The stability of space charge in electrets such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyethylene terephthalate (PETP) and polypropylene (PP) under ultraviolet irradiation has been investigated using photostimulated discharge spectroscopy. While only weak discharge currents were observed in PTFE coated with semitransparent gold electrodes, up to 15 pA/cm(2) were found in PETP around the UV absorption edge near 310 nm. Space charge profiles obtained with the piezoelectrically generated pressure step method indicate that near-surface charges were almost completely removed. In PP foam, recent findings of a UV-reduced d(33) coefficient were confirmed for exposure times of up to 3.5 h, and a discharge peak at 200 urn could be assigned to the charges stored on the surfaces of the voids. The unique morphology and the (quasi-) piezoelectric properties of cellular PP make it a role model for the future investigation of charge storage in electrets},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MellingerGonzalezGerhard2003,
  author    = {Mellinger, Axel and Gonzalez, Francisco Camacho and Gerhard, Reimund},
  title     = {Ultraviolet-induced discharge currents and reduction of piezoelectric coefficient in cellular polypropylene films},
  year      = {2003},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{GonzalezMellingerGerhardetal.2002,
  author    = {Gonzalez, Francisco Camacho and Mellinger, Axel and Gerhard, Reimund and Santos, Lucas F. and Faria, Roberto M.},
  title     = {Photo-stimulated discharge of highly insulating polymers (PTFE and PETP)},
  isbn      = {0-7803-7502-5},
  year      = {2002},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MellingerGonzalezGerhardetal.2002,
  author    = {Mellinger, Axel and Gonzalez, Francisco Camacho and Gerhard, Reimund and Santos, Lucas F. and Faria, Roberto M.},
  title     = {Phototstimulated discharge of corona and electron-beam charged electret polymers},
  isbn      = {0-7803-7560-2},
  year      = {2002},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MellingerWegenerWirgesetal.2001,
  author    = {Mellinger, Axel and Wegener, Michael and Wirges, Werner and Gerhard, Reimund},
  title     = {Thermally stable dynamic piezoelectricity in sandwich films of porous and non-porous amorphous fluoropolymer},
  year      = {2001},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MellingerFruebingPrescheretal.1999,
  author    = {Mellinger, Axel and Fr{\"u}bing, Peter and Prescher, Dietrich and Gerhard, Reimund},
  title     = {Dielectric spectra of a partially fluorinated chromophore / amorphous Teflon AF guest-host system},
  year      = {1999},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{FloresSuarezGanesanWirgesetal.2010,
  author    = {Flores Su{\´a}rez, Rosaura and Ganesan, Lakshmi Meena and Wirges, Werner and Gerhard, Reimund and Mellinger, Axel},
  title     = {Imaging liquid crystals dispersed in a ferroelectric polymer matrix by means of thermal-pulse tomography},
  issn      = {1070-9878},
  doi       = {10.1109/TDEI.2010.5539683},
  year      = {2010},
  abstract  = {A new arrangement of the optical elements in a Thermal-Pulse-Tomography (TPT) setup allows to scan micrometer structures in composite and heterogeneous samples such as polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs). The non-destructive TPT technique allows the determination of three-dimensional profiles of polarization and space charge in dielectrics. The samples under study were 12 mu m thick films of a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride with trifluoroethylene P(VDF- TrFE) (65/35) with embedded liquid-crystal droplets. The poling process was performed in direct contact well above the coercive field of the copolymer. The 3D map obtained from scanning with a 10 mu m wide spot shows elliptically shaped areas with liquid-crystal droplets. Considering the droplets as oblate spheroids, their major axis lies in the x-y plane, while their minor axis in the z direction measures 0.5 mu m or more. This result is in good agreement with scanning electron micrographs. It is believed that the major axis is overestimated due to imaging of liquid-crystal clusters.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{PhamPetreBerquezetal.2009,
  author    = {Pham, Cong Duc and Petre, Anca and Berquez, Laurent and Flores Su{\´a}rez, Rosaura and Mellinger, Axel and Wirges, Werner and Gerhard, Reimund},
  title     = {3D high-resolution mapping of polarization profiles in thin poly(vinylidenefluoride-trifluoroethylene) (PVDF- TrFE) films using two thermal techniques},
  issn      = {1070-9878},
  doi       = {10.1109/TDEI.2009.5128505},
  year      = {2009},
  abstract  = {In this paper, two non-destructive thermal methods are used in order to determine, with a high degree of accuracy, three-dimensional polarization distributions in thin films (12 mu m) of poly(vinylidenefluoride- trifluoroethylene) (PVDF-TrFE). The techniques are the frequency-domain Focused Laser Intensity Modulation Method (FLIMM) and time-domain Thermal-Pulse Tomography (TPT). Samples were first metalized with grid-shaped electrode and poled. 3D polarization mapping yielded profiles which reproduce the electrode-grid shape. The polarization is not uniform across the sample thickness. Significant polarization values are found only at depths beyond 0.5 mu m from the sample surface. Both methods provide similar results, TPT method being faster, whereas the FLIMM technique has a better lateral resolution.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{QiuGerhardMellinger2011,
  author    = {Qiu, Xunlin and Gerhard, Reimund and Mellinger, Axel},
  title     = {Turning polymer foams or polymer-film systems into ferroelectrets dielectric barrier discharges in voids},
  series = {IEEE transactions on dielectrics and electrical insulation},
  volume    = {18},
  journal   = {IEEE transactions on dielectrics and electrical insulation},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Inst. of Electr. and Electronics Engineers},
  address   = {Piscataway},
  issn      = {1070-9878},
  doi       = {10.1109/TDEI.2011.5704490},
  pages     = {34 -- 42},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {Polymer foams and void-containing polymer-film systems with internally charged voids combine large piezoelectricity with mechanical flexibility and elastic compliance. This new class of soft materials (often called ferro-or piezoelectrets) has attracted considerable attention from science and industry. It has been found that the voids can be internally charged by means of dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) under high electric fields. The charged voids can be considered as man-made macroscopic dipoles. Depending on the ferroelectret structure and the pressure of the internal gas, the voids may be highly compressible. Consequently, very large dipole-moment changes can be induced by mechanical or electrical stresses, leading to large piezoelectricity. DBD charging of the voids is a critical process for rendering polymer foams piezoelectric. Thus a comprehensive exploration of DBD charging is essential for the understanding and the optimization of piezoelectricity in ferroelectrets. Recent studies show that DBDs in the voids are triggered when the internal electric field reaches a threshold value according to Townsend's model of Paschen breakdown. During the DBDs, charges of opposite polarity are generated and trapped at the top and bottom internal surfaces of the gas-filled voids, respectively. The deposited charges induce an electric field opposite to the externally applied one and thus extinguish the DBDs. Back discharges may eventually be triggered when the external voltage is reduced or turned off. In order to optimize the efficiency of DBD charging, the geometry (in particular the height) of the voids, the type of gas and its pressure inside the voids are essential factors to be considered and to be optimized. In addition, the influence of the plasma treatment on the internal void surfaces during the DBDs should be taken into consideration.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{FloresSuarezMellingerWegeneretal.2006,
  author    = {Flores Su{\´a}rez, Rosaura and Mellinger, Axel and Wegener, Michael and Wirges, Werner and Gerhard, Reimund and Singh, Rajeev},
  title     = {Thermal-pulse tomography of polarization distributions in a cylindrical geometry},
  series = {IEEE transactions on dielectrics and electrical insulation},
  volume    = {13},
  journal   = {IEEE transactions on dielectrics and electrical insulation},
  number    = {5},
  publisher = {IEEE},
  address   = {Piscataway},
  issn      = {1070-9878},
  doi       = {10.1109/TDEI.2006.258210},
  pages     = {1030 -- 1035},
  year      = {2006},
  abstract  = {Fast, three-dimensional polarization mapping in piezoelectric sensor cables was performed by means of the novel thermal-pulse tomography (TPT) technique with a lateral resolution of 200 mum. The active piezoelectric cable material (a copolymer of polyvinylidene fluoride with trifluoroethylene) was electrically poled with a point-to-cable corona discharge. A focused laser was employed to heat the opaque outer electrode, and the short-circuit current generated by the thermal pulse was used to obtain 3D polarization maps via the scale transformation method. The article describes the TPT technique as a fast non-destructive option for studying cylindrical geometries.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Mellinger2004,
  author    = {Mellinger, Axel},
  title     = {Charge storage in electret polymers: mechanisms, characterization and applications},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-5689},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2004},
  abstract  = {Electrets are materials capable of storing oriented dipoles or an electric surplus charge for long periods of time. The term "electret" was coined by Oliver Heaviside in analogy to the well-known word "magnet". Initially regarded as a mere scientific curiosity, electrets became increasingly imporant for applications during the second half of the 20th century. The most famous example is the electret condenser microphone, developed in 1962 by Sessler and West. Today, these devices are produced in annual quantities of more than 1 billion, and have become indispensable in modern communications technology. Even though space-charge electrets are widely used in transducer applications, relatively little was known about the microscopic mechanisms of charge storage. It was generally accepted that the surplus charges are stored in some form of physical or chemical traps. However, trap depths of less than 2 eV, obtained via thermally stimulated discharge experiments, conflicted with the observed lifetimes (extrapolations of experimental data yielded more than 100000 years). Using a combination of photostimulated discharge spectroscopy and simultaneous depth-profiling of the space-charge density, the present work shows for the first time that at least part of the space charge in, e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate is stored in traps with depths of up to 6 eV, indicating major local structural changes. Based on this information, more efficient charge-storing materials could be developed in the future. The new experimental results could only be obtained after several techniques for characterizing the electrical, electromechanical and electrical properties of electrets had been enhanced with in situ capability. For instance, real-time information on space-charge depth-profiles were obtained by subjecting a polymer film to short laser-induced heat pulses. The high data acquisition speed of this technique also allowed the three-dimensional mapping of polarization and space-charge distributions. A highly active field of research is the development of piezoelectric sensor films from electret polymer foams. These materials store charges on the inner surfaces of the voids after having been subjected to a corona discharge, and exhibit piezoelectric properties far superior to those of traditional ferroelectric polymers. By means of dielectric resonance spectroscopy, polypropylene foams (presently the most widely used ferroelectret) were studied with respect to their thermal and UV stability. Their limited thermal stability renders them unsuitable for applications above 50 °C. Using a solvent-based foaming technique, we found an alternative material based on amorphous Teflon® AF, which exhibits a stable piezoelectric coefficient of 600 pC/N at temperatures up to 120 °C.},
  subject      = {Elektret},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{GanesanFruebingMellingeretal.2009,
  author    = {Ganesan, Lakshmi Meena and Fr{\"u}bing, Peter and Mellinger, Axel and Gerhard, Reimund},
  title     = {Dielectric relaxation behaviour of nematic liquid crystals dispersed in poly(vinylidene fluoride- trifluoroethylene)},
  issn      = {0022-3727},
  doi       = {10.1088/0022-3727/42/9/092006},
  year      = {2009},
  abstract  = {Polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) are prepared from poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF- TrFE)) and a nematic liquid-crystal (LC). The anchoring effect was studied using dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. Two dispersion regions are observed in the dielectric spectra of the pure P(VDF-TrFE) film. They are related to the glass transition and to a space-charge relaxation. In PDLC films containing 10 wt\% of LC, an additional, bias field-dependent relaxation peak is found that can be attributed to the motion of LC molecules. Due to the hindered movement of the LC molecules, this relaxation process is considerably slowed down, compared with the related process in the pure LC.},
  language  = {en}
}