Tuning the Ferroelectric Properties of Trialkylbenzene‐1, 3, 5‐tricarboxamide (BTA). (16th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Urbanaviciute, Indre; Meng, Xiao; Cornelissen, Tim D.; Gorbunov, Andrey V.; Bhattacharjee, Subham; Sijbesma, Rint P.; Kemerink, Martijn
• Is Part Of: Advanced Electronic Materials. Volume 3:Number 7(2017)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2017-05-16
• Subjects: alkyl chains -- benzene‐1, 3, 5‐tricarboxamide -- ferroelectric memories -- organic ferroelectrics -- polarization retention; Materials -- Electric properties -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; Magnetic materials -- Periodicals; Electronic apparatus and appliances -- Periodicals; 537
• DOI: 10.1002/aelm.201600530
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2199-160X

Abstract

Abstract : This study demonstrates how simple structural modification of a prototypical organic ferroelectric molecule can be used to tune its key ferroelectric properties. In particular, it is found that shortening the alkyl chain length of trialkylbenzene‐1, 3, 5‐tricarboxamide (BTA) from C18 H37 to C6 H13 causes an increase in depolarization activation energy (≈ 1.1–1.55 eV), coercive field (≈ 25–40 V µm −1 ), and remnant polarization (≈ 20–70 mC m −2 ). As the polarization enhancement far exceeds the geometrically expected factor, these observations are attributed to an increase in the intercolumnar interaction. The combination of the mentioned characteristics results in a record polarization retention time of close to three months at room temperature for capacitor devices of the material having the shortest alkyl chain. The long retention and the remnant polarization that is as high as that of P(VDF:TrFE) distinguish the BTA‐C6 material from other small molecular organic ferroelectrics and make it a perspective choice for applications that require cheap, flexible, and lightweight ferroelectrics. Abstract : Remnant polarization of ≈70 mC m −2 and record polarization retention of close to three months are achieved for capacitor devices of a prototypical organic ferroelectric molecule trialkylbenzene‐1, 3, 5‐tricarboxamide. A simple, generally applicable structural modification is used to improve the key ferroelectric properties. The optimal structure molecule becomes a perspective choice for applications that require cheap, flexible, and lightweight ferroelectrics.