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Giant Hysteretic Single‐Molecule Electric Polarisation Switching above Room Temperature
Author(s) -
Kato Chisato,
Machida Ryo,
Maruyama Rio,
Tsunashima Ryo,
Ren XiaoMing,
Kurmoo Mohamedally,
Inoue Katsuya,
Nishihara Sadafumi
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201806803
Subject(s) - ferroelectricity , materials science , electric field , polyoxometalate , dipole , hysteresis , relaxation (psychology) , cluster (spacecraft) , electric dipole moment , optoelectronics , condensed matter physics , polarization density , non volatile memory , electret , atmospheric temperature range , molecule , nanotechnology , magnetic field , magnetization , dielectric , chemistry , physics , computer science , composite material , psychology , social psychology , biochemistry , quantum mechanics , programming language , catalysis , organic chemistry , meteorology
Continual progress has been achieved in information technology through unrelenting miniaturisation of the single memory bit in integrated ferromagnetic, ferroelectric, optical, and related circuits. However, as miniaturisation approaches its theoretical limit, new memory materials are being sought. Herein, we report a unique material exhibiting single‐molecule electric polarisation switching that can operate above room temperature. The phenomenon occurs in a Preyssler‐type polyoxometalate (POM) cluster we call a single‐molecule electret (SME). It exhibits all the characteristics of ferroelectricity but without long‐range dipole ordering. The SME affords bi‐stability as a result of the two potential positions of localisation of a Tb 3+ ion trapped in the POM, resulting in extremely slow relaxation of the polarisation and electric hysteresis with high spontaneous polarisation and coercive electric fields. Our findings suggest that SMEs can potentially be applied to ultrahigh‐density memory[1][, ] and other molecular‐level electronic devices operating above room temperature.[4][, ]