A Molecular Perovskite with Switchable Coordination Bonds for High-Temperature Multiaxial Ferroelectrics

Abstract

The underlying phase transitions of ferroelectric mechanisms in molecular crystals are mainly limited to order-disorder and displacive types that are not involved in breaking of the chemical bonds. Here, we show that the bond-switching transition under ambient pressure is designable in molecular crystals, and demonstrate how to utilize the weaker and switchable coordination bonds in a novel molecular perovskite, [(CH₃)₃NOH]₂[KFe(CN)₆] (TMC-1), to afford a scarce multiaxial ferroelectrics with a high Curie temperature of 402 K and 24 equivalent ferroelectric directions (more than BaTiO₃). The high-quality thin films of TMC-1 can be easily fabricated by a simple solution process, and to reveal perfect ferroelectric properties at both macroscopic and microscopic scales, suggesting TMC-1 as a promising candidate for applications in next-generation flexible electronics. The presented molecular assembly strategy, together with the achieved bond-switching ferroelectric mechanism, opens a new avenue for designing advanced ferroelectric materials.