A Metal‐Free Molecular Ferroelectric With Large Piezoelectricity and Its Porous Composite for Superior Output Power Density

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Authors: Nan Chen, Wen‐Juan Wei, Le Ye, Lingyu Wan, Yen Wei
Cited by: 1
References: 61

Abstract

ABSTRACT The key to achieving high power density in piezoelectric materials lies in the synergistic optimization of both high piezoelectric constant ( d 33 ) and piezoelectric voltage coefficient ( g 33 ). Traditional inorganic ceramics offer high d 33 but suffer from low g 33 , poor flexibility, and toxic‐Pb content. Polymers, while flexible, are limited by their relatively low d 33 and insufficient stability. Molecular ferroelectrics can simultaneously offer high piezoelectricity, flexibility, and low loss, yet most reported systems contain toxic‐Cd components, restricting their use in biomedical and wearable applications. Metal‐free molecular ferroelectrics, replaced toxic metals while retaining the molecular ferroelectric attributes, combine environmental friendliness, and biocompatibility, making them ideal candidates for piezoelectrics. However, their piezoelectric output has traditionally been weak. Here, a novel metal‐free molecular ferroelectric, [(CH 3 C 6 H 10 NH 3 )(18‐crown‐6)][ClO 4 ] (CH 3 C 6 H 10 NH 3 = trans‐4‐methylcyclohexylaminium), was designed and synthesized via a methylation‐assisted ring‐expansion strategy, enhancing the piezoelectric performance. The material exhibits a d 33 of 67.42 ± 1.87 pC/N and a g 33 of approximately 2768.9 × 10 −3 V m/N. When composited with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) into a porous architecture, the material delivers an output voltage of 120 V and a power density of 432.1 µW/cm 2 , representing the highest performance reported among metal‐free molecular piezoelectrics. This work offers a practical way to design high‐performance, biocompatible piezoelectrics, creating a new platform for flexible sensors and self‐powered devices.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials Perovskite Materials and Applications Chemical and Physical Properties of Materials

Publication details

Journal / source
Advanced Science
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
13
Issue
27
Pages
e24032–e24032
Publication date
2 March 2026
Language
EN