Multiferroicity and magnetoelectric coupling in the paramagnetic state of the metal-organic framework [(CH3)2NH2]Ni(HCOO)3

Effective Enhancement of the Ferroelectric Performance of Polar Co-Gallate MOF by Doping M2+ Ions (M = Mg, Mn, Ni) into Framework Nodes

MOF ferroelectrics have been demonstrated to be a promising candidate owing to various structures and controllable properties. However, weak ferroelectricity hampers their boom. Herein, a convenient strategy, doping metal ions into the framework nodes of parent MOF, is adopted to enhance ferroelectric performance. A series of M-doped Co-Gallate (M = Mg, Mn, Ni) were synthesized to improve ferroelectric properties. The electrical hysteresis loop demonstrated its ferroelectric behaviors, exhibiting obviously improved ferroelectric properties compared with the parent Co-Gallate. The remanent polarization was enhanced by two times for Mg-doped Co-Gallate, six times for Mn-doped Co-Gallate, and four times for Ni-doped Co-Gallate. The promoted ferroelectric performances are ascribed to the enhanced polarity of the overall structure triggered by framework distortion. Intriguingly, ferroelectric behaviors increase in the order Mg < Ni < Mn, displaying the same tendency as the difference value in the ionic radius between Co²⁺ ions and M²⁺ metal ions (M = Mg, Mn, Ni). These results demonstrate doping of metal ions is a valid strategy to enhance ferroelectric performances, which may serve as a guide in modulating ferroelectric behaviors.

Pressure Control of the Structure and Multiferroicity in a Hydrogen-Bonded Metal-Organic Framework

Multiferroic materials with the cross-coupling of magnetic and ferroelectric orders provide a new platform for physics study and designing novel electronic devices. However, the weak coupling strength of ferroelectricity and magnetism is the main obstacle for potential applications. The recent research focuses on enhancing the coupling effect via synthesizing novel materials in a chemical route or tuning the multiferroicity in the physical way. Among them, pressure is an effective method to modify multiferroic materials, especially when the chemical doping has reached its tuning limit. In this work, we systemically studied the multiferroic properties in a hydrogen-bonded metal-organic framework (MOF) [(CH₃)₂NH₂]Ni(HCOO)₃ under high pressure. X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering reveal that a structural phase transition occurs in a pressure region of 6-9 GPa, and the crystal structure is greatly modified by pressure. With the ac magnetic susceptibility, pyroelectric current, and dielectric constant measurements, we obtain the multiferroic property evolution under high pressure and create a temperature-pressure phase diagram. Our study demonstrates that the pressure can modify the magnetic superexchange interaction and hydrogen bonding simultaneously in these perovskite-like MOFs. The multiferroic phase region has been expanded to higher temperature due to the pressure-enhanced spin-phonon coupling effect.

Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Molecular Materials: From Multiferroic to Magnetoelectric

Inorganic-organic hybrid molecular multiferroic and magnetoelectric materials, similar to multiferroic oxide compounds, have recently attracted increasing attention because they exhibit diverse architectures, a flexible framework, fascinating physics, and potential magnetoelectric functionalities in novel multifunctional devices such as energy transformation devices, sensors, and information storage systems. Herein, the classification of multiferroicity and magnetoelectricity is briefly outlined and then the recent advances in the multiferroicity and magnetoelectricity of inorganic-organic hybrid molecular materials, particularly magnetoelectricity and the relevant magnetoelectric mechanisms and their categories are summarized. In addition, a personal perspective and an outlook are provided.

Pressure Effect on Order-Disorder Ferroelectric Transition in a Hydrogen-Bonded Metal-Organic Framework

Perovskite-like ABX₃ metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have gathered great interest due to their intriguing chemical and physical properties, including their magnetism, ferroelectricity, and multiferroicity. Pressure is an effective thermal parameter in tuning related properties in MOFs due to the adjustable organic framework. Though spectrum experiments have been made on the structural evolution during decompression, there is a lack of electrical studies on the order-disorder ferroelectric transition in the metal-organic frameworks under pressure. In this work, we use a static pyroelectric current measurement, a dynamic dielectric method combined with a Raman scattering technique with applying in situ pressure, to explore the order-disorder ferroelectric transition in [(CH₃)₂NH₂]Co(HCOO)₃. The ferroelectric transition vanishes around the external pressure of 1.6 GPa, emerging with a new paraelectric phase. Another phase transition was observed at 6.32 GPa, mainly associated with the distortive transition of DMA⁺ cations. A phenomenological theory of ferroelectricity vanishing at 1.6 GPa for [(CH₃)₂NH₂]Co(HCOO)₃ is also discussed. Our study gives a comprehensive understanding in the pressure tuning of ferroelectric properties in hybrid inorganic-organic materials.