A facile and efficient strategy for the design of ferroelectric and giant dielectric hybrids via intercalating polar molecules into noncentrosymmetric layered inorganic compounds

Taking into account that an intercalation reaction, an entropy and volume reducing process, can be promoted by increased pressure in a reactor, we developed a facile and efficient strategy for rapid preparation of DMSO and urea intercalated Kaolinites under mild reaction conditions by means of an autoclave, reducing the reaction time from several days to 6 h. The Kaolinite is a noncentrosymmetric layered inorganic host, the polar DMSO or urea molecules were inserted into the inter-layers of Kaolinite to create the hybrid ferroelectric or giant dielectric materials. Our results will shed light on the design and preparation of new hybrid functional materials with technologically important ferroelectricity and giant dielectric properties.