Ferroelectricity in antiferroelectric NaNbO3 crystal

J Phys Condens Matter. 2014 Mar 26;26(12):125901. doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/26/12/125901. Epub 2014 Mar 4.

Abstract

Sodium niobate (NaNbO3, or NNO) is known to be antiferroelectric at temperatures between 45 and 753 K. Here we show experimentally the presence of the ferroelectric phase at temperatures between 100 and 830 K in the NNO crystals obtained by top-seeded solution growth. The ferroelectric phase and new phase transitions are evidenced using a combination of thermo-optical studies by variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry, Raman spectroscopy analysis, and photoelectron emission microscopy. The possibility for strain-induced ferroelectricity in NNO is suggested.

MeSH terms

  • Crystallization / methods*
  • Magnetic Fields*
  • Materials Testing
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Niobium / chemistry*
  • Phase Transition
  • Sodium / chemistry*

Substances

  • sodium niobate
  • Niobium
  • Sodium