A Variety of Phase-Transition Behaviors in a Niccolite Series of [NH3 (CH2 )4 NH3 ][M(HCOO)3 ]2.

ABSTRACT

A niccolite series of [bnH2 (2+) ][M(HCOO)3 ]2 (bnH2 (2+) =1,4-butyldiammonium) shows four kinds of metal-dependent phase transitions, from high temperature para-electric phases to low-temperature ferro-, antiferro-, glass-like, and para-electric phases. The conformational flexibility of bnH2 (2+) and the different size, mass, and bonding character of the metal ion lead to various disorder-order transitions of bnH2 (2+) in the lattice and relevant framework modulations, thus different phase transitions and dielectric responses. The magnetic members display a coexistence or combination of electric and magnetic orderings in the low-temperature region.