A Melt-Processable Metal Halide Perovskite Ferroelectric

Molecular ferroelectrics have increasingly garnered significant attention in both fundamental scientific research and technological applications due to their ease of processing, lightweight nature, and mechanical flexibility. Among these, metal halide perovskite ferroelectrics (MHP FEs), a subset of molecule-based ferroelectrics, exhibit diverse functionalities owing to their distinctive structures, thus emerging as a focal point of molecular ferroelectrics research. However, thin films, the predominant application form for MHP FEs, primarily rely on spin-coating, which presents considerable limitations. The development of melt-processable MHP FEs has been sparse, largely due to the challenge of integrating ferroelectricity with meltability. In this context, we propose a rational strategy for the successful synthesis of a melt-processable MHP FE, (MBPA)₂PbBr₄ (MBPA = N-methyl bromopropylammonium), featuring a notably low congruent melting temperature and excellent molten stability. The reversibility of solid and liquid states was demonstrated by X-ray diffraction and Raman and IR spectrum. Scanning electron microscopy examinations show a better quality of the melt-processed thin films compared to spin-coated ones. This study marks the successful implementation of integrating ferroelectricity and melt-processability into melt-processable MHP FEs, paving the way for a novel approach in processing MHP FEs and facilitating their future applications.