The First Ring Enlargement Induced Large Piezoelectric Response in a Polycrystalline Molecular Ferroelectric

Inorganic ferroelectrics have long dominated research and applications, taking advantage of high piezoelectric performance in bulk polycrystalline ceramic forms. Molecular ferroelectrics have attracted growing interest because of their environmental friendliness, easy processing, lightweight, and good biocompatibility, while realizing the considerable piezoelectricity in their bulk polycrystalline forms remains a great challenge. Herein, for the first time, through ring enlargement, a molecular ferroelectric 1-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octonium perrhenate ([3.2.1-abco]ReO₄ ) with a large piezoelectric coefficient d₃₃ up to 118 pC/N in the polycrystalline pellet form is designed, which is higher than that of the parent 1-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanium perrhenate ([2.2.1-abch]ReO₄ , 90 pC/N) and those of most molecular ferroelectrics in polycrystalline or even single crystal forms. The ring enlargement reduces the molecular strain for easier molecular deformation, which contributes to the higher piezoelectric response in [3.2.1-abco]ReO₄ . This work opens up a new avenue for exploring high piezoelectric polycrystalline molecular ferroelectrics with great potential in piezoelectric applications.