Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Perovskite for Ferroelectric Catalysis

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite ferroelectric has gained significant attention for its structural flexibility and diversity. They can directly utilize metal nodes and organic groups as active sites in catalysis. Additionally, their ferroelectric polarization occurs around these active sites, significantly enhancing catalytic activity and demonstrating immense potential for applications. However, their catalytic applications remain underexplored. This work marks the first utilization of the molecular perovskite ferroelectric [3,3-difluorocyclobutylammonium]₂CuCl₄ (Cu-DFCBA) as a catalyst for alkane oxidation. Under ultrasonic stimulation, it achieved a remarkable turnover number as high as 2402. Compared to inorganic ferroelectrics like lithium niobate (LiNbO₃), the molecular ferroelectric exhibited a 1200-fold increase in catalytic activity. This highlights Cu-DFCBA's robust ferroelectric properties and underscores the vast potential of molecular ferroelectrics in catalysis, guiding future system designs.