Polarization switching, dielectric, structural and elastic properties of 2-Methylbenzimidazole crystals and films

Abstract

Single crystals and films of 2-methylbenzimidazole were grown from ethanol solution by slow cooling and evaporation method. 3D XRD study confirms pseudo tetragonal structure of MBI crystals. MBI films have a texture formed by spherulite type blocks with in-plane orientation of pseudo-tetragonal [001] axis. MBI crystals and films surface were studied by atomic force microscopy to evaluate Young’s modulus and surface potential distributions related to small charge of domain walls. Dielectric hysteresis loops were simulated in frames of particular case of KAI model. Strong decrease of activation field with temperature increase indicates a potential ferroelectric transition above melting point.

Keywords:

• Organic ferroelectrics
• polarization switching
• domain walls
• XRD
• AFM

Acknowledgments

Authors thank Dr. R. Burkovsky for discussion of XRD data.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported in part by the RFBR under Grant N 16-02-00399.