Multichannel Control of Multiferroicity in Single-Component Homochiral Organic Crystals

A ferroelectric/ferroelastic is a material whose spontaneous polarization/strain can be switched by applying an external electric field/mechanical stress. However, the optical control of spontaneous polarization/strain remains relatively unexplored in crystalline materials, although photoirradiation stands out as a nondestructive, noncontact, and remote-controlled stimulus beyond stress or electric field. Here, we present two new organic single-component homochiral photochromic multiferroics, (R)- and (S)-N-3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene-1-4-bromophenylethylamine (SA-Ph-Br(R) and SA-Ph-Br(S)), which show a full ferroelectric/ferroelastic phase transition of 222F2 type at 336 K. Under photoirradiation, their spontaneous polarization/strain can be switched quickly within seconds and reversibly between two ferroelectric/ferroelastic phases with the respective enol and trans-keto forms triggered by structural photoisomerizations. In addition, they possess a superior acoustic impedance characteristic with a value of similar to 2.42 x 10(6) kg.s(-1).m(-2), lower than that of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF, (3.69-4.25) x 10(6) kg.s(-1).m(-2)), which can better match human tissues. This work realizes for the first time that multiple ferroic orders in single-component organic crystals with ultralow acoustic impedance can be simultaneously controlled and coupled by three physical channels (electric, stress, light fields), suggesting their great potential in multichannel data storage, optoelectronics, and related applications compatible with all-organic electronics and human tissues.

Automated summary

This study presents two new organic single-component homochiral photochromic multiferroics that can quickly switch spontaneous polarization/strain under photoirradiation and possess superior acoustic impedance characteristics, showing potential for use in multichannel data storage and optoelectronics.