Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Orientational Transition in a Liquid Crystal Triggered by the Thermodynamic Growth of Interfacial Wetting Sheets
Published on: May 15, 2017
Switchable Dielectric Phase Transition Triggered by Pendulum-Like Motion in an Ionic Co-crystal.
Qing Wang1, Wan-Ying Zhang1, Ping-Ping Shi1
1Ordered Matter Science Research Center, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Science and Applications of Molecular Ferroelectrics, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
Researchers developed a novel pendulum-like dynamic strategy for molecular ionic co-crystals, enabling thermal ON/OFF switching for advanced dielectric materials and molecular memory devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Solid-State Chemistry
- Crystallography
Background:
- Molecular-based ionic co-crystals offer low-cost fabrication and tunable properties for electronic devices.
- Achieving reliable dipole-based ON/OFF switching in these materials remains a significant challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel dynamic strategy for inducing order-disorder transitions in ionic co-crystals.
- To investigate the potential of a specific co-crystal, [C5H7N3Cl]3[Sb2Br9] (compound 1), as an intelligent dielectric material.
Main Methods:
- Utilized temperature-dependent dielectric and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses.
- Investigated the role of cation and anion dynamics in phase transitions.
- Characterized the molecular motion and dipole reorientation within the co-crystal structure.
Main Results:
- Compound 1 exhibits a reversible phase transition driven by the order-disorder transition of its cations.
- The cation's pendulum-like motion acts as the source of the dielectric switch.
- Demonstrated thermal ON/OFF switchable behavior in the bulk crystal.
Conclusions:
- The pendulum-like dynamic strategy provides a feasible method for modulating dipole motion in electrically polarizable materials.
- Compound 1 shows promise as an artificial intelligent dielectric material for applications in molecular memory and beyond.
- This approach offers new insights into controlling dipole reorientation in crystalline materials.
Related Concept Videos
Ionic Crystal Structures
Most monatomic ions behave as charged spheres, and their attraction for ions of opposite charge is the same in every direction. Consequently, stable structures for ionic compounds result (1) when ions of one charge are surrounded by as many ions as possible of the opposite...
Phase Transitions
Phase Transitions: Melting and Freezing
Phase Transitions: Sublimation and Deposition
Phase Transitions: Vaporization and Condensation
Physical Pendulum
When dealing with complicated systems, the mass moment of inertia is an important parameter, as it...

