[C7H14NO][ClO4]: order–disorder structural change induced sudden switchable dielectric behaviour at room temperature

An organic–inorganic hybrid compound, [N-oqc]ClO4 (1, N-oqc = N-oxy-quinuclidine cation), was synthesized and characterized. Its structure is defined by the zero-dimensional structure built from the [N-oqc]ClO4 units from end to end. The crystal structure and dielectric constant measurements reveal that 1 undergoes reversible phase transitions at 342/300 K (heating/cooling). The order–disorder motion of [N-oqc]+ and ClO4− are the origin of the static-to-dynamic transition. Notably, there are sudden dielectric switches between high- and low-dielectric states, making it a new switchable dielectric material.