Electronic ferroelectricity in carbon-based systems: from reality of organic conductors to promises of polymers and graphene nano-ribbons

Natasha Kirova,Serguei Brazovskii

doi:10.1088/1742-6596/486/1/012009

Abstract

Ferroelectricity is a rising demand in fundamental and applied solid state physics. Ferroelectrics are used in microelectronics as active gate materials, in capacitors, electro-optical-acoustic modulators, etc. There is a particular demand for plastic ferroelectrics, e.g. as a sensor for acoustic imaging in medicine and beyond, in shapeable capacitors, etc. Microscopic mechanisms of ferroelectric polarization in traditional materials are typically ionic. In this talk we discuss the electronic ferroelectrics – carbon-based materials: organic crystals, conducting polymers and graphene nano-ribbons. The motion of walls, separating domains with opposite electric polarisation, can be influenced and manipulated by terahertz and infra-red range optics.

Highlights

Phenomenon of the ferroelectricity referrers to an ability of certain materials to develop a spontaneous electric polarization which may have several allowed directions, it can be altered by an external electric field
There is a particular demand for plastic ferroelectrics, e.g. as a sensor for acoustic imaging in medicine and beyond, in shapeable capacitors, etc
The contemporary discovery of the ferroelectricity in organic conductors [1] has brought to life a new mechanism of the predominantly electronic origin, which opens new scales of the magnitude and the rapidity of the effect

Summary

Introduction

Phenomenon of the ferroelectricity referrers to an ability of certain materials to develop a spontaneous electric polarization which may have several allowed directions, it can be altered by an external electric field. Polarizabilities of existing plastic ferroelectrics are rather low, providing the dielectric permittivity ~10, resulting in a modest efficiency of devices. A natural attempt is to consider synthetic conductors, like organic crystals or conducting polymers, which π- electronic systems can greatly enhance the dielectric permittivity. The contemporary discovery of the ferroelectricity in organic conductors [1] has brought to life a new mechanism of the predominantly electronic origin, which opens new scales of the magnitude and the rapidity of the effect.

Results

Conclusion