Organic donor-acceptor cocrystal ferroelectrics: advances and perspectives

Organic/molecular ferroelectrics showing spontaneous polarization have drawn more and more attention, owing to the advantages of flexible, light-weight, low-temperature process, environmentally friendly, and good biocompatible nature. Among them, organic donor-acceptor cocrystals self-assembled from two or more components will provide us with many new insights. This article demonstrates a systematic review of recent research progress on organic donor-acceptor cocrystal ferroelectrics, with a focus on the microscopic origins of ferroelectricity, structure modulation strategies, and underlying mechanisms. The ferroelectric origin mechanisms, such as intermolecular charge transfer, proton transfer, and order-disorder transitions are analyzed in detail. The structure-property relationships in crystal engineering are summarized, and recent advances in theoretical simulations, experimental characterization techniques, and practical applications are introduced. Finally, the current challenges and future research perspectives in this field are outlined. (Figure presented.) © Science China Press 2026.