A reconfigurable polar molecule, comprising: a symmetric nonpolar molecule portion having an elongated shape and defined by a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the longitudinal axis being longer than the lateral axis; a positive ionically charged group arranged on the longitudinal axis of the symmetric nonpolar molecule at a first end and a negative ionically charged group arranged on the longitudinal axis of the symmetric nonpolar molecule at a second end, the positive ionically charged group and the negative ionically charged group forming a permanent dipole through the longitudinal axis of the symmetric nonpolar molecule; a first bridging group and a second bridging group arranged on the lateral axis of the symmetric nonpolar molecule on opposing sides, the first bridging group and the second bridging group being linear nonpolar groups; and a first support portion bonded to the first bridging group, and a second support portion bonded to the second bridging group, the first bridging group and the second bridging group being nonpolar and having structures that enable free rotation of the symmetric nonpolar molecule portion through the first bridging group and the second bridging group; wherein the reconfigurable polar molecule has the following structure: wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently a single bond, a C 2 -C 4 alkyl group, a C 2 -C 4 alkenyl group, a C 2 -C 4 alkynyl group, a cyano group, or any combination thereof; R 3 is the positively charged ionic group; R 4 is the negatively charged ionic group; and R 5 and R 6 are each independently non-polar support portions; wherein R 5 is connected to R 1 by one or more interactions or bonds and R 6 is connected to R 2 by one or more interactions or bonds. a symmetric nonpolar molecule portion having an elongated shape and defined by a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the longitudinal axis being longer than the lateral axis; a positive ionically charged group arranged on the longitudinal axis of the symmetric nonpolar molecule at a first end and a negative ionically charged group arranged on the longitudinal axis of the symmetric nonpolar molecule at a second end, the positive ionically charged group and the negative ionically charged group forming a permanent dipole through the longitudinal axis of the symmetric nonpolar molecule; a first bridging group and a second bridging group arranged on the lateral axis of the symmetric nonpolar molecule on opposing sides, the first bridging group and the second bridging group being linear nonpolar groups; and a first support portion bonded to the first bridging group, and a second support portion bonded to the second bridging group, the first bridging group and the second bridging group being nonpolar and having structures that enable free rotation of the symmetric nonpolar molecule portion through the first bridging group and the second bridging group; wherein the reconfigurable polar molecule has the following structure: wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently a single bond, a C 2 -C 4 alkyl group, a C 2 -C 4 alkenyl group, a C 2 -C 4 alkynyl group, a cyano group, or any combination thereof; R 3 is the positively charged ionic group; R 4 is the negatively charged ionic group; and R 5 and R 6 are each independently non-polar support portions; wherein R 5 is connected to R 1 by one or more interactions or bonds and R 6 is connected to R 2 by one or more interactions or bonds.