Executive Summary : | Ferroelectricity is a fascinating phenomenon involving polar crystalline materials that exhibit reversible spontaneous polarization. These materials are used in various applications, including electronic devices, precision mechanical materials, sonar, and space devices. Control over negative thermal expansion is exciting for designing functional materials for the future. Traditionally, inorganic ceramics-based oxides are used as ferroelectric and non-thermal energy (NTE) materials. However, heavy elements have become a global concern, leading to the resurgence of organic materials due to their benign nature, flexibility, environment-friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and easy processing. The coexistence of NTE and FE in a single material is not uncommon in inorganic and hybrid materials, but it is yet to be reported for purely organic materials. This proposal aims to discover more lightweight materials with FE and/or NTE characteristics through design, synthesis, crystallization, structural, spectroscopic, thermal, electrical, etc. characterization techniques and device preparation. The proposal is divided into three major components: structural and thermal characterizations, electrical measurements, and device fabrication. The encouraging preliminary results of structural and thermal analyses and electrical measurements ensure the feasibility of the proposal, and the outcome is expected to result in novel organic FE and NTE materials with potential applications that may fulfill societal needs. |