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

Abstract

Binary ionic crystals, such as NaCl, are non-polar due to directionless ionic bonding interactions. Here, the authors show that polarity can be developed by using superalkali/superhalogen ions as building blocks, leading to ionic supersalts with ferroelectricity, ferroelasticity or even triferroicity.