Monofunctional ferroelectric liquid crystalline monomers and a blend of monofunctional/lbifunctional ferroelectric liquid crystalline monomers were photopolymerized, yielding a side-chain liquid crystalline polymer and a cross-linked polymer, respectively. The cross-linked polymer exhibited higher thermal stability than the side-chain liquid crystalline polymer and was pyroelectric up to 170 degreesC, whereas the side-chain liquid crystalline polymer lost most of its pyroelectricity at 38 degreesC. It is shown by electrooptic and birefringence measurements that cross-linking in the unwound SmC* phase prevented the reoccurrence of the helical superstructure.