Exceptionally high work density of a ferroelectric dynamic organic crystal around room temperature

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30541-y
• Publication Date: 2022-05-20T10:04:24Z
• Authors: Durga Prasad Karothu; Rodrigo Ferreira; Ghada Dushaq; Ejaz Ahmed; Luca Catalano; Jad Mahmoud Halabi; Zainab Alhaddad; Ibrahim Tahir; Liang Li; Sharmarke Mohamed; Mahmoud Rasras; Panče Naumov
• Keywords: Thermistor; Crystal (programming language)

Dynamic organic crystals are rapidly gaining traction as a new class of smart materials for energy conversion, however, they only capable very small strokes (<12%) and most them operate through energetically cost-prohibitive processes at high temperatures. We report on the exceptional performance an actuating material with exceedingly large stroke that can reversibly convert into work around room temperature. When transitioning 295-305 K heating 265-275 cooling ferroelectric guanidinium nitrate exert linear 51%, highest value observed reversible operation single crystal actuator. Their maximum force density is higher than electric cylinders, ceramic piezoactuators, electrostatic actuators, their capacity close to thermal actuators. This demonstrates hitherto untapped potential ionic applications such light-weight capacitors, dielectrics, tunnel junctions, thermistors.