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A paraelectric-ferroelectric phase transition of an organically templated zinc oxalate coordination polymer
K Pasińska1, A Piecha-Bisiorek, V Kinzhybalo
1Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Okólna 2, 50-422 Wrocław, Poland. k.pasinska@int.pan.wroc.pl.
Abstract:
Water-presence dependent switchable ferroelectricity was discovered in the hybrid organic-inorganic zinc oxalate 1D coordination polymer (DABCOH2)[Zn(C2O4)2]·3H2O (DZnOH, where DABCOH2: diprotonated 1.4-diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane). The compound undergoes a reversible para-ferroelectric phase transition at 207 K from room temperature centrosymmetric phase I (space group P21/n) to low-temperature non-centrosymmetric phase II (space group P21). The microscopic mechanism of the phase transition is directly associated with the reconstruction of the hydrogen-bond network. On heating, the crystals exhibit a reversible single-crystal to single-crystal transformation concerned with the removal of all water molecules giving anhydrous DABCO zinc oxalate (DABCOH2)[Zn(C2O4)2] (DZnO). The dehydrated compound does not show ferroelectric properties.
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