Unusual
Phase Behavior in the Piezoelectric Perovskite
System, Li<sub><i>x</i></sub>Na<sub>1–<i>x</i></sub>NbO<sub>3</sub>
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Abstract
The system Li<sub><i>x</i></sub>Na<sub>1–<i>x</i></sub>NbO<sub>3</sub> has
been studied by using a combination
of X-ray and neutron powder diffraction and <sup>23</sup>Na solid-state
NMR spectroscopy. For <i>x</i> = 0.05 we confirm a single
polar orthorhombic phase. For 0.08 ≤ <i>x</i> ≤
0.20 phase mixtures of this orthorhombic phase, together with a rhombohedral
phase, isostructural with the low-temperature ferroelectric polymorph
of NaNbO<sub>3</sub>, are observed. The relative fractions of these
two phases are shown to be critically dependent on synthetic conditions:
the rhombohedral phase is favored by higher annealing temperatures
and rapid cooling. We also observe that the orthorhombic phase transforms
slowly to the rhombohedral phase on standing in air at ambient temperature.
For 0.25 ≤ <i>x</i> ≤ 0.90 two rhombohedral
phases coexist, one Na-rich and the other Li-rich. In this region
the phase behavior is independent of reaction conditions