Structures des phases paraélectrique et ferroélectrique de Pb2KNb5O15

Abstract

The paraelectric and the ferroelectric/ferroelastic structures of Pb2KNb5O15 have been refined by the Rietveld method from neutron and X-ray powder diffraction data. The paraelectric phase is tetragonal (space group P4/mbm) with lattice parameters a t = 12.646 (1) and c t = 3.9551 (2) Å at 790 K. The Pb- and K-atom distribution has been determined. It was established that the Pb atoms situated on the 15-coordinate sites are not on the special position (2mm) but are distributed over two disordered positions as in the tetragonal phase of Pb2KTa5O15. The ferroelectric/ferroelastic phase is orthorhombic. The space group of the average structure is Cm2m and the lattice parameters are a o = 17.779 (2), b o = 18.015 (2), c o = 3.9209 (4) Å at 294 K and a o = 17.756 (1), b o = 18.019 (1), c o = 3.9141 (2) Å at 81 K. It is isostructural with the average ferroelectric/ferroelastic structure of PbNb2O6. The orthorhombic distortion is of the same order but the Curie temperature is lowered by the substitution 2K+–Pb2+. The structures of PbNb2O6, PbTa2O6, Pb2KNb5O15 and Pb2KTa5O15 are compared. The ferroelectric polarization of the niobates is due to both the Pb off-site position and the Nb displacements, which induce a distortion of the oxygen lattice. In PbTa2O6, the oxygen-lattice distortion is very weak. The polarization seems to be due only to the Pb atom. In the tantalates the substitution 2K+–Pb2+ should weaken the correlations between the Pb atoms and consequently suppress the ferroelectric transition. Only a local polarization should take place; this might be the origin of the dielectric relaxation observed in this compound.