Molecular Ferroelectric Pyridin-4-ylmethanaminium Perchlorate Undergoes Paraelectric–Ferroelectric and Ferroelectric–Ferroelectric Phase Transitions

Abstract

Molecule-based ferroelectrics are a class of highly desirable intelligent materials for their rich switchable physical properties, easy and environmentally friendly processing, especial lightweight and mechanical flexibility. In the current work, a new molecule-based ferroelectrics pyridin-4-ylmethanaminium perchlorate was discovered undergoing paraelectric–ferroelectric phase transition at Tc = 258.40(8) K and ferroelectric–ferroelectric phase transition at T1 = 255.93(2) K. It crystallizes in monoclinic crystal system with a centrosymmetric space group of C2/c at 293 K and also crystallizes in monoclinic crystal system but with a polar space group of Cc at 223 K. The spontaneous polarization can reach 1.25 μC/cm2 and the coercive field is about 2.6 kV/cm below 254 K. The paraelectric–ferroelectric phase transition belongs to displacive phase transition and the nearby ferroelectric–ferroelectric phase transition contains order–disorder features, which consistent with the dynamic process including deforma...