Ferroelectric Lithography in Single-Component Organic Enantiomorphic Ferroelectrics

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2022 May 23;61(22):e202200135. doi: 10.1002/anie.202200135. Epub 2022 Feb 28.

Abstract

Organic ferroelectrics are flexible, lightweight, and bio-friendly, promising for bio-harmonized electronic devices, while their ferroelectric lithography remains relatively unexplored. Here, by introducing homochirality and ZE photoisomerization, we obtained a pair of organic enantiomorphic ferroelectrics, di(benzylamino)-substituted derivatives of muconic acids, the first ferroelectrics in the muconic family. Their ferroelectric and chiral features were confirmed by the polarization-electric field hysteresis loops and circular dichroism spectra, respectively. Piezoresponse force microscopy measurements demonstrate that the desired domain structure can be precisely achieved by applying a local electric field on a predefined pattern in their thin films. Moreover, thermogravimetric analyses reveal that their ferroelectricity can persist up to above 550 K. The precise pattern lithography and excellent thermal stability make them competitive candidates for ferroelectric lithography.

Keywords: Chirality; Ferroelectric Domains; Organic Ferroelectrics; Polarization Switching; Thin Films.