Structures and phase transitions in a new ferroelectric – pyridinium chlorochromate – studied by X-ray diffraction, DSC and dielectric methods

Abstract

Pyridinium chlorochromate, [C5H5NH]+[ClCrO3]− (hereafter referred to as PyClCrO3), was studied by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dielectric methods. Studies reveal three reversible phase transitions at 346, 316 and 170 K with the following phase sequence: R\bar 3m (I) → R3m (II) → Cm (III) → Cc (IV), c′ = 2c. PyClCrO3 is the first pyridinium salt in which all four phases have been successfully characterized by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. Structural results together with dielectric and calorimetric studies allow the classification of the two intermediate phases (II) and (III) as ferroelectric with the Curie point at 346 K, and the lowest phase (IV) as most probably ferroelectric. The ferroelectric hysteresis loop was observed only in phase (III). The high ionic conductivity hindered its observation in phase (II).