• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
ERN: Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM

ERN: Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM

  • About
    • About AAAS
    • About the NSF
    • About the Conference
    • Partners/Supporters
    • Project Team
  • Conference
  • Abstracts
    • Undergraduate Abstract Locator
    • Graduate Abstract Locator
    • Abstract Submission Process
    • Presentation Schedules
    • Abstract Submission Guidelines
    • Presentation Guidelines
  • Travel Awards
  • Resources
    • Award Winners
    • Code of Conduct-AAAS Meetings
    • Code of Conduct-ERN Conference
    • Conference Agenda
    • Conference Materials
    • Conference Program Books
    • ERN Photo Galleries
    • Events | Opportunities
    • Exhibitor Info
    • HBCU-UP/CREST PI/PD Meeting
    • In the News
    • NSF Harassment Policy
    • Plenary Session Videos
    • Professional Development
    • Science Careers Handbook
    • Additional Resources
    • Archives
  • Engage
    • Webinars
    • ERN 10-Year Anniversary Videos
    • Plenary Session Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Login

A New Organic Material, Possibly Ferroelectric

Undergraduate #84
Discipline: Physics
Subcategory: Materials Science

Gabriel Lopez - California State University, San Bernardino
Co-Author(s): Kevin Collins, California State University, San Bernardino, CA.



We have synthesized a completely new crystalline material that has exhibited two distinct morphologies with the possibility of being ferroelectric. This crystal is theorized to be ferroelectric, meaning it can remember electric fields, and can be used as capacitors, actuators, data memory storages, and many other important applications. We mix equal parts of: a one mole standard solution Cobalt (II) Chloride Hexahydrate (237.93g/L), Hydrochloric Acid (HCL), and Diisopropylamine (DIPA). Fast evaporation of the solution results in a needle like morphology, while slow evaporation results in a plate morphology. Powder x-ray diffraction shows that needles and plates have the same pattern or same structure. The new crystal, Diisopropylammonium Cobalt (II), was characterized by single crystal x-ray diffraction; the structure consists of 8[CoCl4] 2[HDIPA] units per unit cell and has the molecular formula Cl4 Co, 2(C6 H16 N). The crystal symmetry group is C 1 2 1, its unit cell dimensions are a = 28.3559(12) Å α= 90°. b = 12.1289(6) Å β= 118.2520(10) °. c = 13.5484(5) Å  = 90°. VASP calculation shows the polarization to be -33 electrons-Angstrom along the y-axis, which is 28 degrees off the b-axis. These results suggest that this crystal may be ferroelectric with high probability to pass through polar phases due to its spacing. Further testing with Atomic Force Microscopy and Radiance Systems are needed to confirm ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF CREST Grant #1345163

Faculty Advisor: Timothy Usher, tusher@csusb.edu

Role: I synthesized the new organic material using the components Cobalt (II) Chloride Hexahydrate, Hydrochloric Acid (HCl), and Diisopropylamine (DIPA). I monitored evaporation rates and extracted crystals, cleaned, and prepared crystal samples. I used a Philips X'Pert X-ray Diffractometer to characterize crystals making sure my crystal production was consistent and to confirm that the two morphologies of the crystal were the same structurally.

Sidebar

Abstract Locators

  • Undergraduate Abstract Locator
  • Graduate Abstract Locator

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.

AAAS

1200 New York Ave, NW
Washington,DC 20005
202-326-6400
Contact Us
About Us

  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The World’s Largest General Scientific Society

Useful Links

  • Membership
  • Careers at AAAS
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Focus Areas

  • Science Education
  • Science Diplomacy
  • Public Engagement
  • Careers in STEM

Focus Areas

  • Shaping Science Policy
  • Advocacy for Evidence
  • R&D Budget Analysis
  • Human Rights, Ethics & Law

© 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science