Polarization-Switching Controlled Luminescence in Hybrid Ferroelectric

Luminescent ferroelectrics have sparked significant attention in integrated photoelectronic devices, optical sensing and storage. Their potential cross-coupling effect of polarization-light modulation would offer enormous possibilities for novel functionalities and multi-level information processing. However, achieving controllable coupling modulation between photoluminescence (PL) and ferroelectric polarization has always been a long-standing challenge since the first discovery of ferroelectricity in 1921. Moreover, the ferroelectrics equipped with tenably multi-state emission in a single material has been a blank to date. Herein, we reported the first successful integration and coupling of ferroelectricity and luminescent behavior in a single-component hybrid material, (Quinuclidinium-3-one)₂ZrCl₅. Remarkably, based on the controllable orientation of dipole ions, its PL intensity can be deliberately modulated by polarization switching under the action of external electric field, achieving a coupling-induced PL intensity variation ratio as high as 50%, which is unprecedented among reported hybrid ferroelectrics. More interestingly, (Quinuclidinium-3-one)₂ZrCl₅ also exhibits multi-state emission with PL colors from apricot red to emerald green through varied light-excitation. This work represents a major breakthrough in luminescent ferroelectrics and would herald the emergence of novel application potential toward smart photoelectronics.