Synthesis, structural characterization, Hirshfeld surface analysis, spectroscopic and ferroelectric properties studies of 4-methylbenzylammonium sulfate

Single crystals of 4-methylbenzylammonium sulfate were grown in an aqueous solution at room temperature. The grown compound is characterized by spectroscopic, thermal, and dielectric studies and its structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Its crystal structure is described as a three-dimensional network where the sulfate anions (HSO4-) are interconnected through H-bonds to form anionic layers between which the 4-methylbenzylammonium cations are located. The hydrogen bonding network connecting the different components is given. Hirshfeld surface analysis was performed to visualize, explore and quantify intermolecular interactions in the crystal lattice. This analysis revealed the presence of H...C/H...C, C...O/O...C intermolecular interactions and O...O, H...H short contacts in the crystal. X-ray, structural and electrical results are correlated. The kind of the observed conduction is protonic by translocation. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) shows that this material presents a reversible phase transition at 390 K, confirmed by the dielectric permittivity study.