Synthesis and characterization of a new organic–inorganic hybrid ferroelectric: (C4H10N)6[InBr6][InBr4]3·H2O

Abstract

Organic–inorganic hybrid ferroelectric materials have attracted attention from researchers as promising candidates for functional materials, because they combine high performance and low cost. Herein, a new organic–inorganic hybrid ferroelectric material (C₄H₁₀N)₆[InBr₆][InBr₄]₃·H₂O (1) was synthesized and characterized. The compound undergoes a paraelectric–ferroelectric phase transition at T_C = 232 K, which is investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dielectric measurements and variable-temperature structural analyses. Crystal structure analyses indicated that the disorder–order transition of Br atoms in [InBr₄]⁻ anions depending on temperature was the main factor driving the phase transition from Pbcn to Pna2₁. This finding will open up a new direction to probe the organic–inorganic hybrid molecular ferroelectric phase transition materials.