Jérôme Long (University of Montpellier, France) «Multifunctional molecule-based magnets: slow relaxation, luminescence and above room-temperature ferroelectricity»

Coordination chemistry of lanthanide ions allows the tailored design of multifunctional ferroelectric molecule-based materials where the properties are gathered into a single molecular system. We investigate here, by using luminescent and magnetically anisotropic lanthanides ions assembled with an enantiopure antenna ligand, the synthesis of high temperature ferroelectric complexes having a high degree of functionality, combining Single-Molecule Magnet behavior, optical activity and lanthanide luminescence. Remarkably, these molecular systems behave as ferroelectrics up to a temperature above 180 K of the Curie temperature of BaTiO3, making it the highest temperature working molecular ferroelectric yet reported. Remarkably, investigation of the magnetoelectrical coupling at room temperature confirms their great potential as multiferroics.