Dielectric transition and relaxation in an imidazolium-based organic-inorganic hybrid crystal (HIm)6[(CdCl4)(CdCl6)]

•Crystals of title compound are obtained via an aqueous solution-evaporation method.•Dielectric transition and relaxation occur between 120 and 180 K.•One of the two HIm cations undergoes a static-dynamic disorder transition.

Organic-inorganic hybrid compound (HIm)6[(CdCl4)(CdCl6)] (Im = imidazole) shows a striking dielectric transition and relaxation between 120 and 180 K. Variable-temperature single crystal structure analysis and dielectric measurement reveal one half of the HIm cations in the crystal undergoes a transition between the static and dynamic disorders.

Graphical abstractMotional changes of one half of the HIm cations in the imidazolium-based crystal (HIm)6[(CdCl4)(CdCl6)] shows dielectric transition and relaxation behaviors between 120 and 180 K.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide