Intrinsic Atomic-Scale Antiferroelectric VOF₃ Nanowire with Ultrahigh-Energy Storage Properties

Antiferroelectrics with antiparallel dipoles are receiving tremendous attention for their technological importance and fundamental interest. However, intrinsic one-dimensional (1D) materials harboring antiferroelectric ordering have rarely been reported despite the promise of novel paradigms for miniaturized and high-density electronics. Herein, based on first- and second-principles calculations, we demonstrate the VOF₃ atomic wire, exfoliated from an experimentally synthesized yet underexplored 1D van der Waals (vdW) bulk, as a new 1D antiferroelectric material. The energetic, thermal, and dynamic stabilities of the nanowire are confirmed theoretically. Moreover, the temperature-dependent phase transitions and double-hysteresis polarization-field loops are computed for the VOF₃ nanowire by constructing the second-principles model. According to the hysteresis loops, high energy densities and efficiencies can be obtained simultaneously at room temperature in the VOF₃ nanowire under moderate applied fields. Our identified 1D atomic wire not only expands the family of antiferroelectricity but also holds potential for novel high-power energy storage nanodevices.