Solid state materials with tunable dielectric response and rotational anisotropy

A reconfigurable polar molecule, comprising:

• a symmetric nonpolar molecule portion having an elongated shape, comprising a polyaromatic ring structure, and defined by a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the longitudinal axis being longer than the lateral axis;
• a positive ionically charged group arranged on the longitudinal axis of the symmetric nonpolar molecule at a first end and a negative ionically charged group arranged on the longitudinal axis of the symmetric nonpolar molecule at a second end, the positive ionically charged group and the negative ionically charged group forming a permanent dipole through the longitudinal axis of the symmetric nonpolar molecule;
• a first bridging group and a second bridging group arranged on the lateral axis of the symmetric nonpolar molecule on opposing sides, the first bridging group and the second bridging group being linear nonpolar groups;
• an axis of rotation extending from the first bridging group to the second bridging group along the lateral axis of the symmetric nonpolar molecule;
• and
• a first nonpolar support portion bonded to the first bridging group on one side of the symmetric nonpolar molecule, and a second nonpolar support portion bonded to the second bridging group on an opposing side of the symmetric nonpolar molecule, the first bridging group and the second bridging group being nonpolar and having structures that enable free rotation of the symmetric nonpolar molecule portion through the first bridging group and the second bridging group;
• wherein the reconfigurable polar molecule has the following structure:
• wherein R1 and R2 are each independently a single bond, a C2-C4 alkyl group, a C2-C4 alkenyl group, a C2-C4 alkynyl group, or any combination thereof;
• R3 is the positive ionically charged group;
• R4 is the negative ionically charged group;
• R5 is the first nonpolar support portion;
• and R6 is the second nonpolar support portion.

A method of using a reconfigurable polar molecule, the method comprising:

• forming the reconfigurable polar molecule, comprising:
• a symmetric nonpolar molecule portion having an elongated shape and defined by a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the longitudinal axis being longer than the lateral axis;
• a positive ionically charged group arranged on the longitudinal axis of the symmetric nonpolar molecule at a first end and a negative ionically charged group arranged on the longitudinal axis of the symmetric nonpolar molecule at a second end, the positive ionically charged group and the negative ionically charged group forming a permanent dipole through the longitudinal axis of the symmetric nonpolar molecule;
• a first bridging group and a second bridging group arranged on the lateral axis of the symmetric nonpolar molecule at opposing sides, the first bridging group and the second bridging group being linear nonpolar groups;
• and
• a first support portion bonded to the first bridging group, and a second support portion bonded to the second bridging group, the first bridging group and the second bridging group being nonpolar and having structures that enable free rotation of the symmetric nonpolar molecule portion through the first bridging group and the second bridging group with respect to the first support portion and the second support portion;
• wherein the reconfigurable polar molecule has the following structure:
• wherein R1 and R2 are each independently a single bond, a C2-C4 alkyl group, a C2-C4 alkenyl group, a C2-C4 alkynyl group, a cyano group, or any combination thereof;
• R3 is the positive ionically charged group;
• R4 is the negative ionically charged group;
• R5 is the first nonpolar support portion;
• and R6 is the second nonpolar support portion;
• and
• applying an electric field to the reconfigurable polar molecule to induce the reconfigurable polar molecule to rotate through an axis of rotation that extends through the lateral axis of the symmetric nonpolar support molecule.