Chemical approach to neutral–ionic valence instability, quantum phase transition, and relaxor ferroelectricity in organic charge-transfer complexes

Orbital hybridization of donor and acceptor to enhance the conductivity of mixed-stack complexes

Mixed-stack complexes which comprise columns of alternating donors and acceptors are organic conductors with typically poor electrical conductivity because they are either in a neutral or highly ionic state. This indicates that conductive carriers are insufficient or are mainly localized. In this study, mixed-stack complexes that uniquely exist at the neutral-ionic boundary were synthesized by combining donors (bis(3,4-ethylenedichalcogenothiophene)) and acceptors (fluorinated tetracyanoquinodimethanes) with similar energy levels and orbital symmetry between the highest occupied molecular orbital of the donor and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of the acceptor. Surprisingly, the orbitals were highly hybridized in the single-crystal complexes, enhancing the room-temperature conductivity (10-4-0.1 S cm-1) of mixed-stack complexes. Specifically, the maximum conductivity was the highest reported for single-crystal mixed-stack complexes under ambient pressures. The unique electronic structures at the neutral-ionic boundary exhibited structural perturbations between their electron-itinerant and localized states, causing abrupt temperature-dependent changes in their electrical, optical, dielectric, and magnetic properties.

Supramolecular Organic Ferroelectric Materials from Donor-Acceptor Systems

Organic ferroelectric (FE) materials, though known for more than a century, are yet to reach close to the benchmark of inorganic or hybrid materials in terms of the magnitude of polarization. Amongst the different classes of organic systems, donor (D)-acceptor (A) charge-transfer (CT) complexes are recognized as promising for ferroelectricity owing to their neutral-to-ionic phase transition at low temperature. This review presents an overview of different supramolecular D-A systems that have been explored for FE phase transitions. The discussion begins with a general introduction of ferroelectricity and its different associated parameters. Then it moves on to show early examples of CT cocrystals that have shown FE properties at sub-ambient temperature. Subsequently, recent developments in the field of room temperature (RT) ferroelectricity, exhibited by H-bond-stabilized lock-arm supramolecular-ordering (LASO) in D-A co-crystals or other FE CT-crystals devoid of neutral-ionic phase transition are discussed. Then the discussion moves on to emerging reports on other D-A soft materials such as gel and foldable polymers; finally it shows very recent developments in ferroelectricity in supramolecular assemblies of single-component dipolar or ambipolar π-systems, exhibiting intra-molecular charge transfer. The effects of structural nuances such as H-bonding, balanced charge transfer and chirality on the observed ferroelectricity is described with the available examples. Finally, piezoelectricity in recently reported ambipolar ADA-type systems are discussed to highlight the future potential of these soft materials in micropower energy harvesting.

Fine tuning of intra-lattice electron transfers through site doping in tetraoxolene-bridged iron honeycomb layers

The precise control of intra-lattice multiple electron transfers was demonstrated in the solvated and desolvated species of the tetraoxolene-bridged Fe honeycomb layer system, (NPr4)2[Fe2(Cl2An)3]·(solv) (Cl2Ann- = 2,5-dichloro-3,6-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinonate; NPr4+ = tetrapropylammonium cation), by the site-doping of the Cl2Ann- bridging unit using X2Ann- units with X = Br or F.

Chameleonic layered metal-organic frameworks with variable charge-ordered states triggered by temperature and guest molecules

Molecular materials whose electronic states are multiply varied depending on external stimuli are among the most promising targets for the development of multiply accessible molecular switches. Here, we report a honeycomb layer composed of tetraoxolene-bridged iron (Fe) subunits whose charge-ordered states are multiply variable via thermal treatments and solvation/desolvation with the crystallinity intact. The compound is (NPr4)2[Fe2(Cl2An)3] (1-d; NPr4 + = tetra-n-propylammonium; Cl2An2- = 2,5-dichloro-3,6-dihydroxo-1,4-benzoquinonate), which possesses three charge-ordered states: a low-temperature (LT) phase [(Fe3+)2(Cl2An2-)(Cl2An˙3-)2]2-; an intermediate (IM) phase [(Fe2.5+)2(Cl2An2-)(Cl2An2.5-)2]2-; and a high-temperature (HT) phase [(Fe2+)2(Cl2An2-)3]2- that varies according to temperature. In addition, the LT phase of 1-d is reversibly changeable to another IM phase in its solvated compound 1 via a solvation/desolvation process at room temperature. This example demonstrates a new multiple-switching system based on electron transfer and host-guest chemistry in a charge-flexible metal-organic framework.

Ionic Donor-Acceptor Chain Derived from an Electron-Transfer Reaction of a Paddlewheel-Type Diruthenium(II, II) Complex and N,N'-Dicyanoquinonediimine

A new ionic donor-acceptor (D⁺ A^- ) chain compound, [{Ru₂ (2,6-(CF₃ )₂ PhCO₂ )₂ (p-PhPhCO₂ )₂ }DMDCNQI] (1; 2,6-(CF₃ )₂ PhCO₂^- =2,6-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoate; p-PhPhCO₂^- =4-biphenylcarboxylate; DMDCNQI=2,5-dimethyl-N,N'-dicyanoquinonediimine) was isolated and structurally characterized. It represents the first of this type of ionic chain compounds.

Thermally Induced Valence Tautomeric Transition in a Two-Dimensional Fe-Tetraoxolene Honeycomb Network

A novel tetraoxolene-bridged Fe two-dimensional honeycomb layered compound, (NPr₄ )₂ [Fe₂ (Cl₂ An)₃ ] ⋅2 (acetone)⋅H₂ O (1), where Cl₂ An^n- =2,5-dichloro-3,6-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinonate and NPr₄⁺ =tetrapropylammonium cation, has been synthesized. 1 revealed a thermally induced valence tautomeric transition at T_1/2 =236 K (cooling)/237 K (heating) between Fe^m+ (m=2 or 3) and Cl₂ An^n- (n=2 or 3) that induced valence modulations between [Fe^II_HS Fe^III_HS (Cl₂ An^2- )₂ (Cl₂ An^.3- )]^2- at T>T_1/2 and [Fe^III_HS Fe^III_HS (Cl₂ An^2- )(Cl₂ An^.3- )₂ ]^2- at T<T_1/2 . Even in a two-dimensional network structure, the low-temperature phase [Fe^III_HS Fe^III_HS (Cl₂ An^2- )(Cl₂ An^.3- )₂ ]^2- valence set can be regarded as a magnetic chain-knit network, where ferrimagnetic Δ and Λ chains of [Fe^III_HS (Cl₂ An^.3- )]_∞ are alternately linked by the diamagnetic Cl₂ An^2- . This results in a slow magnetization behavior attributed to the structure acting as a single-chain magnet at lower temperatures.

Dynamic molecular crystals with switchable physical properties

The development of molecular materials whose physical properties can be controlled by external stimuli - such as light, electric field, temperature, and pressure - has recently attracted much attention owing to their potential applications in molecular devices. There are a number of ways to alter the physical properties of crystalline materials. These include the modulation of the spin and redox states of the crystal's components, or the incorporation within the crystalline lattice of tunable molecules that exhibit stimuli-induced changes in their molecular structure. A switching behaviour can also be induced by changing the molecular orientation of the crystal's components, even in cases where the overall molecular structure is not affected. Controlling intermolecular interactions within a molecular material is also an effective tool to modulate its physical properties. This Review discusses recent advances in the development of such stimuli-responsive, switchable crystalline compounds - referred to here as dynamic molecular crystals - and suggests how different approaches can serve to prepare functional materials.

Room-Temperature Ferroelectricity in an Organic Cocrystal

Ferroelectric materials exhibit switchable remanent polarization due to reversible symmetry breaking under an applied electric field. Previous research has leveraged temperature-induced neutral-ionic transitions in charge-transfer (CT) cocrystals to access ferroelectrics that operate through displacement of molecules under an applied field. However, displacive ferroelectric behavior is rare in organic CT cocrystals and achieving a Curie temperature (T_C ) above ambient has been elusive. Here a cocrystal between acenaphthene and 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane is presented that shows switchable remanent polarization at room temperature (T_C =68 °C). Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and solid-state NMR spectroscopy indicate the ferroelectric behavior is facilitated by acenaphthene (AN) rotation, deviating from conventional design strategies for CT ferroelectrics. These findings highlight the relevance of non-CT interactions in the design of displacive ferroelectric cocrystals.

Challenge in optoelectronic duplex switches: a red emission large-size single crystal and a unidirectional flexible thin film of a hybrid multifunctional material

Photoelectric dual-function features in bulk crystals or flexible thin films make them excellent candidates for important and thriving applications in storage, sensing and other information fields. Based on superior advantages such as easy and environmentally friendly processing, mechanical flexibility, and ability to fabricate films and bulk single crystals; we designed a type of molecular material with a photoelectric multi-function switch, [N(NH₂CH₂CH₂)₃]₂Mn₂Cl₁₂ (compound 1), which exhibits intriguing temperature-dependent dielectric and red emission switchable characteristics. This material perfectly explains the advantages of molecular materials, while 1 can also be used to fabricate a transparent unidirectional film with ultra-flexibility. Moreover, this material shows the highest record in signal contrast of ∼5 (exceeding all the known molecular materials/crystalline switches, revealing its potential to obtain high-efficiency signal-to-noise ratio), sensitive dielectric bi-stability, and excellent switching anti fatigue. These features give it a high application value in integrated circuits, optoelectronic seamless integration devices and flexible multifunctional devices.

Dielectric Jump and Negative Electrostriction in Metallosupramolecular Ionic Crystals

In natural ionic solids, cationic and anionic species are alternately arranged to minimize electrostatic energy. Aggregation of identical ionic species is commonly prohibited due to the repulsive, long-range nature of Coulombic interactions. Recently, we synthesized unique ionic solids, [Au^I₄Co^III₂(dppe)₂(d-pen)₄]X₂·nH₂O (dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, d-pen = d-penicillaminate), in which complex cations are self-assembled into a cationic supramolecular octahedron, while monovalent or divalent inorganic anions are aggregated into an anomalous anionic cluster accommodating several water molecules. This quite unusual aggregation manner originates from various molecular-level non-Coulombic interactions such as hydrogen bonds and CH-π interactions; thus, this class of ionic solids is referred to as non-Coulombic ionic solids, abbreviated as NCISs. Herein, we report that the NCISs with a peculiar charge-separated (CS) structure in a cubic lattice show a negative, isotropic electrostriction phenomenon that has never been found in any ionic solids, as well as an anomalously large relaxer-like dielectric jump phenomenon reaching to an application level of ε′/ε₀ ~ 10⁵. The appearance of these phenomena was explained by the cooperative dynamics of inorganic anions and dipolar water molecules in the pliable anionic clusters that are surrounded by a rather robust cationic metallosupramolecular framework with a meso-scopic scale.

Tuning of Stepwise Neutral-Ionic Transitions by Acceptor Site Doping in Alternating Donor/Acceptor Chains

The stepwise neutral-ionic (N-I) phase transition found in the alternating donor/acceptor (DA) chain [Ru2(2,3,5,6-F4PhCO2)4(DMDCNQI)]·2(p-xylene) (0; 2,3,5,6-F4PhCO2(-) = 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzoate; DMDCNQI = 2,5-dimethyl-N,N'-dicyanoquinonediimine) was tuned by partly substituting the acceptor DMDCNQI with 2,5-dimethoxy-N,N'-dicyanoquinonediimine (DMeODCNQI), which displays a poorer electron affinity in an isostructural series. The site-doped series comprised [Ru2(2,3,5,6-F4PhCO2)4(DMDCNQI)1-x(DMeODCNQI)x]·2(p-xylene) for doping rates (x) = 0.05 (0.05-MeO), 0.10 (0.10-MeO), 0.15 (0.15-MeO), and 0.20 (0.20-MeO). The neutral chain [Ru2(2,3,5,6-F4PhCO2)4(DMeODCNQI)]·4(p-xylene) (1), which only contained DMeODCNQI, was also characterized. All site-doped compounds were isostructural to 0 except 1 despite their identical DA chain motif. Except at an x value of 0.20, they displayed a two-step N-I transition involving an intermediate phase. This transition occurred at high temperatures in 0 but shifted to lower temperatures in a parallel manner with increasing doping rate. Simultaneously, each transition broadened with increasing doping rate, leading to a convergence of two transitions at an x value approximating 0.2. Donor/acceptor-site-doping techniques present somewhat different impacts in terms of interchain Coulomb effects.

The effect of chlorine and fluorine substitutions on tuning the ionization potential of benzoate-bridged paddlewheel diruthenium(ii, ii) complexes

A series of paddlewheel diruthenium(ii, ii) complexes with various chlorine-substituted benzoate ligands (Cl-series) was synthesized as tetrahydrofuran (THF) adducts [Ru2(ClxPhCO2)4(THF)2]; where ClxPhCO2(-) = o-chlorobenzoate, ; m-chlorobenzoate, ; p-chlorobenzoate, ; 2,3-dichlorobenzoate, ; 2,4-dichlorobenzoate, ; 2,5-dichlorobenzoate, ; 2,6-dichlorobenzoate, ; 3,4-dichlorobenzoate, ; 3,5-dichlorobenzoate, ; 2,3,4-trichlorobenzoate, ; 2,3,5-trichlorobenzoate, ; 2,4,5-trichlorobenzoate, ; 3,4,5-trichlorobenzoate, ; 2,3,4,5-tetrachlorobenzoate, . This Cl-series and the previously synthesized F-series together with four new fluorine-substituted derivatives, [Ru2(FxPhCO2)4(THF)2] (where FxPhCO2(-) = 2,3-difluorobenzoate, ; 2,4-difluorobenzoate, ; 2,5-difluorobenzoate, ; 2,3,5-trifluorobenzoate, ), were experimentally characterized with respect to solid-state structure, magnetic properties and electrochemistry. By tuning the substituents of the benzoate ligands using chlorine or fluorine atoms, the redox potential (E1/2) for [Ru2(II,II)]/[Ru2(II,III)](+) varied over a wide range of potentials from -40 mV to 360 mV (vs. Ag/Ag(+) in THF). This was dependent on (i) the number of ortho-substituents, i.e. non-, mono- and di-o-substituted groups, with quasi-Hammett parameters for ortho-Cl and -F substitutions (σo = -0.272 and -0.217, respectively) and (ii) the general Hammett constants, σm and σp, for each group. The HOMO energy level calculated on the basis of the atomic coordinates of the solid-state structure was strongly affected by Cl- and F-substitutions as well as the redox potential in solution, which emphasizes the steric contribution of ortho-substituents in the energy level giving a deviation of EHOMO < 0.3 eV and <0.55 eV for the Cl- and F-series, respectively.

Reversible phase transition of 2-carboxypyridinium perchlorate-pyridinium-2-carboxylate (1/1)

The title salt, C6H6NO2(+)·ClO4(-)·C6H5NO2, was crystallized from an aqueous solution of equimolar quantities of perchloric acid and pyridine-2-carboxylic acid. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements show that the compound undergoes a reversible phase transition at about 261.7 K, with a wide heat hysteresis of 21.9 K. The lower-temperature polymorph (denoted LT; T = 223 K) crystallizes in the space group C2/c, while the higher-temperature polymorph (denoted RT; T = 296 K) crystallizes in the space group P2/c. The relationship between these two phases can be described as: 2a(RT) = a(LT); 2b(RT) = b(LT); c(RT) = c(LT). The crystal structure contains an infinite zigzag hydrogen-bonded chain network of 2-carboxypyridinium cations. The most distinct difference between the higher (RT) and lower (LT) temperature phases is the change in dihedral angle between the planes of the carboxylic acid group and the pyridinium ring, which leads to the formation of different ten-membered hydrogen-bonded rings. In the RT phase, both the perchlorate anions and the hydrogen-bonded H atom within the carboxylic acid group are disordered. The disordered H atom is located on a twofold rotation axis. In the LT phase, the asymmetric unit is composed of two 2-carboxypyridinium cations, half an ordered perchlorate anion with ideal tetrahedral geometry and a disordered perchlorate anion. The phase transition is attributable to the order-disorder transition of half of the perchlorate anions.

A high-temperature supramolecular-based switchable dielectric material with electrical bistability between high and low dielectric states

One new hybrid supramolecular-based phase transition compound TAPC containing macrocycle stator with electrical bistability between high and low dielectric states has been prepared.

Charge transfer tuning by chemical substitution and uniaxial pressure in the organic complex tetramethoxypyrene–tetracyanoquinodimethane

Charge transfer is not enhanced by the larger electron affinity of the acceptor as evident from a comparison of the mixed-stack systems TMP–TCNQ and TMP–F₄TCNQ.

Design of ferroelectric organic molecular crystals with ultrahigh polarization

Inspired by recent successful synthesis of room-temperature ferroelectric supramolecular charge-transfer complexes, i.e., tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)- and pyromellitic diimide (PMDI)-based crystals (Tayi et al. Nature 2012, 488, 485-489), three new ferroelectric two-component organic molecular crystals are designed based on the TTF and PMDI motifs and an extensive polymorph search. To achieve energetically favorable packing structures for the crystals, a newly developed computational approach that combines polymorph predictor with density functional theory (DFT) geometry optimization is employed. Tens of thousands of packing structures for the TTF- and PMDI-based crystals are first generated based on the limited number of asymmetric units in a unit cell as well as limited common symmetry groups for organocarbon crystals. Subsequent filtering of these packing structures by comparing with the reference structures yields dozens of promising crystal structures. Further DFT optimizations allow us to identify several highly stable packing structures that possess the space group of P2₁ as well as high to ultrahigh spontaneous polarizations (23-127 μC/cm(2)) along the crystallographic b axis. These values are either comparable to or much higher than the computed value (25 μC/cm(2)) or measured value (55 μC/cm(2)) for the state-of-the-art organic supramolecular systems. The high polarization arises from the ionic displacement. We further construct surface models to derive the electric-field-switched low-symmetry structures of new TTF- and PMDI-based crystals. By comparing the high-symmetry and low-symmetry crystal structures, we find that the ferroelectric polarization of the crystals is very sensitive to atomic positions, and a small molecular displacement may result in relatively high polarizations along the a and c axes, polarity reversal, and/or electronic contribution to polarization. If these newly designed TTF- and PMDI-based crystals with high polarizations are confirmed by experiments, the computer-aided ferroelectric material design on the basis of hydrogen-bonded charge-transfer complexes with flexible electron-donor and acceptor molecules would be proven valuable for expediting the search of room-temperature "displasive-type" ferroelectric organic crystals.

Control of charge transfer in donor/acceptor metal-organic frameworks

Charge transfer (CT) of D(0)A(0) ↔ D(δ+)A(δ-) not only involves an electron transfer from D to A, but also generates a new spin set of S = 1/2 spins with an exchange interaction. Therefore, the control of CT in multidimensional frameworks could be an efficient way to design electronically/magnetically functional materials. The use of redox-active metal complexes as D and/or A building blocks expands the variety of such D/A frameworks with the formulation of D(m)A(n) (m, n ≥ 1), permitting the design of donor/acceptor metal-organic frameworks (D/A-MOFs). This Account summarizes our ongoing research on the design of D/A-MOFs and on the systematic control of CT in such D/A-MOFs toward the discovery of unique electronic/magnetic materials exhibiting nontrivial phenomena. For this purpose, the D/A combinations of carboxylate-bridged paddlewheel-type diruthenium(II,II) complexes ([Ru(2)(II,II)]) that act as one-electron (1e(-)) donors and polycyanoorganic acceptors such as 7,7,8,8-tetracyano-p-quinodimethane (TCNQ) and N,N'-dicyanoquinodiimine (DCNQI) have been chosen. Even in the covalently bonded motif, the CT in this system is systematically dependent on the intrinsic ionization potential (I(D)) and electron affinity (E(A)) of the D and A units, respectively, which is controllable by chemical modification of the D/A units. As we consider the energy difference between the HOMO of D and the LUMO of A (ΔE(H-L)(DA)) instead of hν(CT) ∝ |I(D) - E(A)|, the neutral (N) and ionic (I) states can be defined as follows: (i) the D/A materials with ΔE(H-L)(DA) > 0 (i.e., the LUMO level of A is higher than the HOMO level of D) should be neutral, and (ii) complexes adopted when ΔE(H-L)(DA) < 0 are, meanwhile, ionic. Materials located near ΔE(H-L)(DA) ≈ 0, that is, at the boundary between the N and I phases, are candidates for the N-I transition driven by external stimuli such as temperature, pressure, and photoirradiation. Even in the ionic state, two distinct states could be isolated for the D(2)A type: (ii-1) the 1e(-) transferred D(2)A-MOFs provide mixed-valence systems of D(+)D(0)A(-) possibly involving intervalence CT, which produce magnetic correlations via radical A(-) units, and (ii-2) when the 2e(-) reduced form of A (e.g., TCNQ(2-)) is energetically favored beyond the on-site Coulomb repulsion on A, the oxidation state of D(+)(2)A(2-) is produced, for which magnetic measurements reveal a paramagnetic state attributed to the isolated D(+) units. The interspatial Coulombic interaction is another factor in determining the charge distribution in materials, which is related to the spatial Coulombic stability of D/A packing and possibly yields a mixture of N and I domains when it is more advantageous to get Coulombic gain than in the uniform N or I phase. Such a phase could be observed at the boundary between N and I phases involving the N-I transition. These charge-distributed states/phases are systematically demonstrated in a D/A-MOF system made by the combination of [Ru(2)(II,II)] and TCNQ/DCNQI; however, we immediately recognize the charge distribution of D/A-MOF only by understanding the nature of the starting D/A units. The present D/A-MOF system should be an intriguing platform to look for new functionalities with synergistic correlations among charge, spin, and lattice.

Reversible structural phase transition of pyridinium-4-carboxylic acid perchlorate

Pyridinium-4-carboxylic acid perchlorate (C6H6NO2·ClO4) was synthesized and separated as crystals. Differential scanning calorimetry measurement shows that this compound undergoes a reversible phase transition at about 122 K with a heat hysteresis of 1.8 K. A dielectric anomaly observed at 127 K further confirms the phase transition. The low-temperature (LT;T= 103 K) structure has space groupP21/cand cell parametersa= 17.356 (6),b= 13.241 (3),c= 16.161 (7) Å, β = 138.055 (17)°. The high-temperature (HT;T= 298 K) structure has space groupP21/cand cell parametersa= 5.5046 (11),b= 13.574 (3),c= 11.834 (2) Å, β = 99.35 (3)°, but can be re-described using new axesa′ =a,b′ =b,c′ = −2a+c,V′ =Vto give the cella′ = 5.5046 (11),b′ = 13.574 (3),c′ = 17.424 (3) Å, β′ = 137.92 (3)° and space groupP21/c. The associated coordinate transformation isx′ =x+ 2z,y′ =y,z′ =zand the associated reflection index transformation ish′ =h,k′ =k,l′ =l− 2h. The relationship between the two cells is 3a,b,c(HT) approximatesa,b,c(LT). The crystal comprises one-dimensional hydrogen-bonded chains of the pyridinium-4-carboxylic acid cations and perchlorate anions. A precise analysis of the main packing and structural differences as well as the changes in the intermolecular interactions between the HT phase and the LT phase reveals that the disorder–order transition of the perchlorate anions may be the driving force of the transition, and the hydrogen-bonding effect may contribute to the transition as a secondary parameter.

Organic ferroelectrics

Ferroelectricity results from one of the most representative phase transitions in solids, and is widely used for technical applications. However, observations of ferroelectricity in organic solids have until recently been limited to well-known polymer ferroelectrics and only a few low-molecular-mass compounds. Whereas the traditional use of dipolar molecules has hardly succeeded in producing ferroelectricity in general, here we review advances in the synthesis of new organic materials with promising ferroelectric properties near room temperature, using design principles in analogy to inorganic compounds. These materials are based on non-covalent molecules formed by two or more components, in which ferroelectricity arises either from molecular displacements or from the collective transfer of electrons or protons. The principle of using multi-component molecular compounds leads to a much broader design flexibility and may therefore facilitate the development of future functional organics.

Mixed valency in organic charge transfer complexes

Mixed-valence (partial charge transfer state) and segregated stacking are the key factors for constructing organic metals. Here, we discuss the ionicity phase diagrams for a variety of charge transfer systems to provide a strategy for the development of functional organic materials (Mott insulator, semiconductor, superconductor, metal, complex isomer, neutral-ionic system, etc.).

Hydrogen-bonded donor–acceptor compounds for organic ferroelectric materials

Organic ferroelectrics are multifunctional candidates for future organic electronic and optical devices. In spite of their potential, only a few organic compounds are known to exhibit a ferroelectric transition. The conventional approach to ferroelectrics, in general, relies on the use of asymmetric dipolar molecules and/or substituents. Recently, distinct design strategies have been developed using the molecular compounds of binary- or multi-components, combined with "non-covalent" forces: charge-transfer interactions and/or hydrogen bonding. This article focuses on the supramolecular systems of hydrogen-bonded acid and base molecules. Ferroelectricity and a significant dielectric response, as well as an antiferroelectric ordering induced by proton transfer, are demonstrated in the hydrogen-bonded chains composed of 2,5-dihydroxy-p-benzoquinone derivatives and nitrogen-containing aromatic bases.