Crystal structure and piezoelectric properties of the final member of the Pyridylalanine derivative series: [H β (3 Pyridyl) Ala OH][BF4]

Abstract

A new amino acid-based crystal, [3PyAla][BF4] , was successfully synthesized and characterized usingsingle-crystal diffraction. The title salt crystallizes in the polar, piezoelectric P2₁ space group. Piezoelectric force microscopy (PFM) demonstrated that the piezoresponse of [3PyAla][BF4] is comparable to that of lithium niobate (LiNbO3). The correlation between the crystal structure - particularly the hydrogen bond network - and the physical properties of this alanine derivative was examined. Additionally, its thermal behavior was investigated through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The piezoresponse of [3PyAla][BF4] and other alanine salts was discussed.