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Molecular orbital breaking in photo-mediated organosilicon Schiff base ferroelectric crystals

Author

Listed:
  • Zhu-Xiao Gu

    (Nanjing University)

  • Nan Zhang

    (Southeast University)

  • Yao Zhang

    (Southeast University)

  • Bin Liu

    (Nanjing University)

  • Huan-Huan Jiang

    (Southeast University)

  • Hua-Ming Xu

    (Southeast University)

  • Peng Wang

    (Nanjing University
    Southeast University)

  • Qing Jiang

    (Nanjing University)

  • Ren-Gen Xiong

    (Nanchang University)

  • Han-Yue Zhang

    (Southeast University)

Abstract

Ferroelectric materials, whose electrical polarization can be switched under external stimuli, have been widely used in sensors, data storage, and energy conversion. Molecular orbital breaking can result in switchable structural and physical bistability in ferroelectric materials as traditional spatial symmetry breaking does. Differently, molecular orbital breaking interprets the phase transition mechanism from the perspective of electronics and sheds new light on manipulating the physical properties of ferroelectrics. Here, we synthesize a pair of organosilicon Schiff base ferroelectric crystals, (R)- and (S)-N-(3,5-di-tert-butylbenzylidene)-1-((triphenylsilyl)oxy)ethanamine, which show optically controlled phase transition accompanying the molecular orbital breaking. The molecular orbital breaking is manifested as the breaking and reformation of covalent bonds during the phase transition process, that is, the conversion between C = N and C–O in the enol form and C–N and C = O in the keto form. This process brings about photo-mediated bistability with multiple physical channels such as dielectric, second-harmonic generation, and ferroelectric polarization. This work further explores this newly developed mechanism of ferroelectric phase transition and highlights the significance of photo-mediated ferroelectric materials for photo-controlled smart devices and bio-sensors.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhu-Xiao Gu & Nan Zhang & Yao Zhang & Bin Liu & Huan-Huan Jiang & Hua-Ming Xu & Peng Wang & Qing Jiang & Ren-Gen Xiong & Han-Yue Zhang, 2024. "Molecular orbital breaking in photo-mediated organosilicon Schiff base ferroelectric crystals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-48405-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48405-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Edward Witten, 2004. "When symmetry breaks down," Nature, Nature, vol. 429(6991), pages 507-508, June.
    2. Wesley Jeevadason, A. & Kalidasa Murugavel, K. & Neelakantan, M.A., 2014. "Review on Schiff bases and their metal complexes as organic photovoltaic materials," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 220-227.
    3. Sergey V. Borisenko & Alexander A. Kordyuk & Andreas Koitzsch & Martin Knupfer & Jörg Fink & Helmuth Berger & Chengtian T. Lin, 2004. "Time-reversal symmetry breaking?," Nature, Nature, vol. 431(7004), pages 1-2, September.
    4. Nan Zhang & Wencong Sun & Yao Zhang & Huan-Huan Jiang & Ren-Gen Xiong & Shuai Dong & Han-Yue Zhang, 2023. "Organic radical ferroelectric crystals with martensitic phase transition," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
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