A family of ionic supersalts with covalent-like directionality and unconventional multiferroicity

Ionic crystals composed of elemental ions such as NaCl are non-polar due to directionless ionic bonding interactions. Here, we show that these can develop polarity by changing their building blocks from elemental ions to superalkali and superhalogen cluster-ions, which mimic the chemistry of alkali and halogen atoms, respectively. Due to the non-spherical geometries of these cluster ions, corresponding supersalts form anisotropic polar structures with ionic bonding, yet covalent-like directionality, akin to sp3 hybridized systems. Using density functional theory and extensive structure searches, we predict a series of stable ferroelectric/ferroelastic supersalts, PnH4MX4 (Pn = N, P; M = B, Al, Fe; X = Cl, Br) composed of superalkali PnH4 and superhalogen MX4 ions. Unlike traditional ferroelectric/ferroelastic materials, the cluster-ion based supersalts possess ultra-low switching barrier and can endure large ion displacements and reversible strain. In particular, PH4FeBr4 exhibits triferroic coupling of ferroelectricity, ferroelasticity, and antiferromagnetism with controllable spin directions via either ferroelastic or 90-degree ferroelectric switching.

Учет влияния полей остаточных деформаций в современных физико-механических технологиях обработки конструкционных материалов

A strict determination of the mechanisms of redistribution of previously accumulated irreversible strains as a result of additional elastic shock actions on the material is given for a nonlinear gradient model of large elastic–plastic strain. It is shown that this redistribution is limited by rigid transport and rotation of the plastic strain tensor. Formulas for a change in the initial components of the plastic strain tensor in elastic waves are derived. It is shown that the preliminary plastic field affects the dynamics of further reversible strain as one of the factors of formation of the initial quasi-static elastic field, which cannot be obtained in a purely elastic process.

Reversible strain alignment and reshuffling of nanoplatelet stacks confined in a lamellar block copolymer matrix

The position and orientation of stacked fluorescent nanoplatelets confined in a block-copolymer matrix is reversibly controlled by an applied strain.