Ferroelectricity in Ethylammonium Bismuth-Based Organic-Inorganic Hybrid: (C2H5NH3)2[BiBr5]

The (C2H5NH3)(2)[BiBr5] (EBB) crystals adopt the one-dimensional (1D) polymeric anionic form [BiBr5](infinity)(2-), which is preferred by halobismuthates(III) exhibiting polar properties and realized in R2MX5, stoichiometry. Differential scanning calorimetry and dilatometric measurements reveal reversible structural phase transitions: at 160 K (phase I -> phase II) and 120 K (phase II -> phase III). The resolved crystal structures of EBB show the centrosymmetric space group in phase I (Aeam), polar (Pca2(1)) in phase II, and polar (Aea2) in phase III. The presence of dielectric hysteresis loops in phases II and III evidence ferroelectric properties. The dielectric response [epsilon*(omega,T)] of EBB close to 160 K is characteristic of ferroelectrics with a critical slowing down process. The molecular mechanism of a paraelectric-ferroelectric phase transition at 160 K is explained as order-disorder (assigned to the dynamics of the ethylammonium cations) and dominating displacive (related to strong distortion of the 1D anionic network). The optical band gap obtained from UV-vis measurements is about 2.6 eV. The conduction band minimum is formed by the hybridized Bi 6p and Br 4p states. An analysis of the CSD results for haloantimonates(III) and halobismuthates(III) ferroelectrics characterized by [MX4](-), [M2X9](3) [MX5](2-), and [M2X11](5-) anions is given.