journal article·2026-04Open access

Record‐Low Compressibility in [N(C 2 H 5 ) 3 CH 3 ]FeCl 4 Expands Phase Engineering Horizons in Hybrid Molecular Ferroelectrics

Takeshi Nakagawa, Kejun Bu, Yang Ding, Anna Moliterni, Cinzia Giannini, Jasminka Popović, Tianyao Pei, Yonggang Wang, Hirofumi Ishii, Anna Z. Szeremeta, Marian Paluch, Martina Vrankić

Small· Volume 22· Issue 23

Abstract

ABSTRACT Advances in hybrid organic–inorganic ferroelectrics (HOIFs) plateau; high‐pressure studies offer powerful approaches to deepen understanding of structure‐property relationships and enable rational phase engineering of lead‐free HOIFs as viable inorganic alternatives. To date, high‐pressure studies focus on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and lead‐based HOIFs, constrained by toxicity, stability, and limited pressure ranges. Structure‐stability‐compressibility correlations prove essential for understanding lead‐free HOIFs under ultrawide pressure conditions, yet remain scarcely explored. We present high‐pressure studies of the lead‐free HOIF [N(C 2 H 5 ) 3 CH 3 ]FeCl 4 (EMAFC), which stays stable and mechanochromic up to 51.5 GPa with a reversible P 6 3 mc ‐to‐ P 1 phase transition at 0.75 GPa. Pressure‐triggered synchrotron powder X‐ray diffraction, Raman, UV–vis, dielectric, and second‐harmonic‐generation switching data reveal coupling between structural changes and bandgap modulation. With a bulk modulus of K 0 = 42.0(5) GPa, EMAFC sets a record for compressibility among HOIFs. Beyond low compressibility, the tunability of EMAFC manifests through reversible retention of the SHG “on” state up to 9.5 GPa and transition to “off” by 20.0 GPa. Our results show that halide choice and lattice dynamics govern the compressibility and functional properties of HOIFs. EMAFC exhibits the lowest compressibility reported, establishing key structure‐compressibility relationships and enabling advanced phase and property control in hybrid ferroelectrics.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Perovskite Materials and Applications · Metal-Organic Frameworks: Synthesis and Applications · Crystallography and molecular interactions

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Center for High‐Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research Beijing P. R. China

Institute of Crystallography (IC)‐CNR Bari Italy

Division of Materials Physics Ruđer Bošković Institute Zagreb Croatia

National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center Hsinchu Taiwan

August Chełkowski Institute of Physics University of Silesia in Katowice Chorzów Poland

Funding

Hrvatska Zaklada za Znanost

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