Synchrotron-radiation X-ray diffraction evidence of the emergence of ferroelectricity in LiTaO3 by ordering of a disordered Li ion in the polar direction. (7th June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Zhi-Gang; Abe, Tomohiro; Moriyoshi, Chikako; Tanaka, Hiroshi; Kuroiwa, Yoshihiro
• Is Part Of: Applied physics express. Volume 11:Number 7(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-06-07
• Subjects: Physics -- Periodicals; Technology -- Periodicals; 621.05
• DOI: 10.7567/APEX.11.071501
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1882-0778

Abstract

Abstract: Synchrotron-radiation X-ray diffraction studies as a function of temperature reveal the structural origin of the spontaneous polarization and related lattice strains in stoichiometric LiTaO3 . Electron charge density distribution maps visualized by the maximum entropy method clearly demonstrate that ordering of the disordered Li ion in the polar direction accompanied by deformation of the oxygen octahedra lead to the ferroelectric phase transition. The ionic polarization attributed to the ionic displacements is dominant in the polar structure. The structural change occurs continuously at the phase transition temperature, which suggests a second-order phase transition.