Frustrated Dipole Order Induces Noncollinear Proper Ferrielectricity in Two Dimensions

Within Landau theory, magnetism and polarity are homotopic, displaying a one-to-one correspondence between most physical characteristics. However, despite widely reported noncollinear magnetism, spontaneous noncollinear electric dipole order as a ground state is rare. Here, a dioxydihalides family is predicted to display noncollinear ferrielectricity, induced by competing ferroelectric and antiferroelectric soft modes. This intrinsic of dipoles generates unique physical properties, such as Z₂×Z₂ topological domains, atomic-scale dipole vortices, and negative piezoelectricity.