Ferroelectric nanoscale domains and the 905 K phase transition in SrSnO3: A neutron total-scattering study.

Goodwin, A. L. and Redfern, S. A. T. and Dove, M. T. and Keen, D. A. and Tucker, M. E. (2007) Ferroelectric nanoscale domains and the 905 K phase transition in SrSnO3: A neutron total-scattering study. Physical Review B, 76. pp. 174114-11. DOI https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.76.174114

[img] PDF
DoveFerroelectric.pdf
Restricted to Registered users only

Download (681kB)
Official URL: doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.76.174114

Abstract

The 905 K Pnma–Imma phase transition in SrSnO3 is studied here using a combination of variable-temperature neutron total scattering together with the reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) refinement method. The real-space RMC configurations obtained are analyzed in terms of bond distance and bond-angle distributions, and a geometric algebra approach is used to quantify the associated octahedral-tilting distributions. What emerges from this analysis is that the transition is displacive in nature, in contrast to the results of a recent average-structure investigation in which an order-disorder model was proposed [E. H. Mountstevens et al., Phys. Rev. B 71, 220102(R) (2005)]. Three-dimensional diffuse scattering patterns calculated from the same RMC configurations reveal the existence of an additional disorder mechanism which persists across the Pnma-Imma transition. The “reflection conditions” of this diffuse scattering, together with displacement correlation calculations, point to the existence of ferroelectric nanoscale domains within the configurations, which are found to extend across planar regions of approximately 10–15 Å in diameter.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: 2007 AREP IA55 2007 P
Divisions: 03 - Mineral Sciences
Journal or Publication Title: Physical Review B
Volume: 76
Page Range: pp. 174114-11
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.76.174114
Depositing User: Sarah Humbert
Date Deposited: 16 Feb 2009 13:02
Last Modified: 23 Jul 2013 10:07
URI: http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/id/eprint/327

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

About cookies