Scientific Research Team of NCU Discovering Enantiomeric Ferroelectrics with the Highest Phase-transition Temperature

Recently, Prof. Ai Yong and Prof. Liao Weiqiang of International Institute of Ordered Matter Science achieved new progress in designing molecular ferroelectrics by “F/H substitution effect” and discovered a pair of enantiomeric ferroelectrics with the highest phase-transition temperature so far.

Designing Chiral Molecular Ferroelectrics by “F/H Substitution Effect”

By raising the phase transformation point through “F/H substitution effect” and depending on the advantage of chirality, they have successfully obtained organic enantiomeric ferroelectrics with ultrahigh phase-transition temperature: (R) - and (S) -(N,N-dimethyl-3-fluoropyrrolidinium) iodide. The phase-transition temperature is 470K, which has been increased by 88K as compared with non-ferroelectrics containing no fluorine (N, N-dimethyl-3-fluoropyrrolidinium) iodide. This phase-transition temperature is much higher than that of other enantiomeric ferroelectrics and commercial inorganic ferroelectrics BaTiO₃ (393K). The discovery is another breakthrough in designing molecular ferroelectrics by “F/H substitution effect”. It will accelerate the development of ferroelectrochemistry so that we can obtain more molecular ferroelectrics with a broad application prospect.

High phase-transition temperature is an important precondition for actual application of ferroelectric materials. The scientific research team of International Institute of Ordered Matter Science of Nanchang University proposed “F/H substitution effect” as an important strategy to raise the phase transformation point. Through F/H substitution effect, the molecular rotational energy barrier can be increased to raise the phase transformation point. “F/H substitution effect” also has advantages such as introducing chirality, enhancing polarity and making the molecular structure and point group remain unchanged. At present, through designing molecular ferroelectrics with a high phase-transition temperature by “F/H substitution effect”, the team has made a series of research achievements: J. Am. Chem. Soc.2020, 142, 6946–6950; J. Am. Chem. Soc.2020, 142, 6236–6243; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 4474–4479; J. Am. Chem. Soc.2019, 141, 4372–4378; Adv. Mater.2019, 31, 1902163, etc.

The relevant research achievement was published as Highest-TC organic enantiomeric ferroelectrics obtained by F/H substitution in the academic journal Chemical Communications.Nanchang University is the only completion unit.

Paper link:https://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2020/CC/D0CC02547J

• Source : Nanchang University
• Date : 2020-05-20