Controlling the competition between polar and antipolar structures by rumpling in Ruddlesden–Popper layered nitride La₃W₂N₇

The competition between interlayer rumpling and rotations is crucial for understanding the origin of hybrid improper ferroelectricity for Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) oxides, but the corresponding relationship is still unclear in the RP nitrides. Inspired by the recent experimental synthesis of RP layered nitrides, we explore competitive relationships of distortion modes in La₃W₂N₇ and the strategies for enhancing the polar modes. The results show that although the potential energy surface of the rumpling mode presents a single-well shape, it can enhance the stability of both the polar and antipolar coupling modes. The antipolar coupling mode is more energy preferable, so the stable La₃W₂N₇ is a centrosymmetric structure with the space group Pnma. We further enhance the rumpling distortion through the interface atomic substitution strategy, making the polar coupling mode more dominant in the (LaY₂)W₂N₇, resulting in a non-centrosymmetric ground state structure. The analysis of electronic structure and electrostatic potential indicates that the electrostatic potential differences between the rock salt and perovskite layers strengthen the amplitude of the rumpling mode and the Jahn–Teller distortion of the [WN₆] octahedron. Our study provides a viable strategy for designing non-centrosymmetric n = 2 RP layered nitrides and offers a promising pathway toward the future development of nitride-based ferroelectric and multiferroic materials.