Metal-organic coordination compounds for potential ferroelectrics

A summary of recent work is p resented describing the synthesis and characterization of noncentrosymmetric or homochiral metal-organic coordination compounds (MOCCs) or metal-organic coordination polymers (MOCPs) which belong to 10 polar point groups with potential ferroelectric properties. Under the guidance of structure-function relationship, by using homochiral organic ligands as building blocks or supramolecular crystal engineering strategies, a series of potential ferroelectric MOCCs (or MOCPs) has been assembled through coordinating bond formation. Their ferroelectric behavior is measured and evaluated. Also the future development of ferroelectrics based on MOCCs is outlined. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.