Effect of doping with Nd3+ ions on the structural and ferroelectric properties of Ca0.28Ba0.72Nb2O6 single crystal

The crystal structure of Ca0.28Ba0.72Nb2O6(CBN-28) crystal with Nd-doping has been determined from X-ray single crystal diffraction data, in the tetragonal system with space group P4bm and the following parameters: a = b = 12.458 angstrom, c = 3.954 angstrom, V = 613.688 angstrom(3), and Z = 5. X-ray diffraction results on a Nd-doped CBN-28 single crystal also have demonstrated that Nd3+ and Ca2+ occupy the same site in the crystal structure. Dielectric and ferroelectric measurements have been performed. Transition from ferroelectric to paraelectric at around 223 degrees C has been observed. The Nd-doped crystal has a lower Curie temperature (T-m) than that of undoped CBN-28 crystal. The spontaneous polarization (P-s) and coercive electric field (E-c) also decrease compared with their values in the undoped CBN-28 crystal. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.