Neutron structures of ammonium tetrafluoroberyllate

Abstract

It is thought that hydrogen bonding is responsible for the ferroelectricity in ammonium tetrafluoroberyllate, (NH_{4})_{2}BeF_{4}. In the past X-ray data have been collected, but these did not permit accurate determination of the H-atom positions. In order to obtain more accurate information the neutron structures have now been determined for the paraelectric and ferroelectric phases. Going from the paraelectric to the ferroelectric phase, both the BeF_4^{2-} and the NH_4^+ ions rotate and shift from the mirror planes of the paraelectric phase. This results in removal of the mirror-plane symmetry and formation of a superlattice with the a axis doubled. Along the polar c axis, the NH_4^+ ions move towards the BeF_4^{2-} ions within chains of molecules and the chains move slightly relative to one another. The rotations and translations give rise to stronger hydrogen-bonding interactions.