An acentric lanthanide-formate complex: synthesis, structure, ferroelectric and magnetic properties

An acentric complex, [Sm(HCOO)3]n (1), was hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, IR, and element analysis. Complex 1 crystallized in the rhombohedral system with acentric space group R3m and afforded a three-dimensional (3D) structure. Interestingly, ferroelectric and magnetic studies revealed that complex 1 demonstrated both ferroelectric and antiferromagnetic properties.