[C5H12N]CdCl3: an ABX3 perovskite-type semiconducting switchable dielectric phase transition material

A new organic–inorganic ABX3 perovskite-type semiconducting hybrid, N-methylpyrrolidinium trichlorocadmate (MPCC), has been synthesized. It is found that MPCC exhibits semiconducting behaviour with an optical bandgap of ∼4.65 eV, as well as remarkable dielectric switching properties. It displays a structural phase transition (SPT) at Tc = 254 K, being confirmed by DSC and specific heat measurements. Dielectric measurements display distinct step-like anomalies around Tc, suggesting MPCC as a switchable dielectric material. Variable temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that symmetry-breaking occurs from Pnma (at 280 K, >Tc) to P21/c (at 230 K