Ferroelectric Q and antiferroelectric P phases' coexistence and local phase transitions in oxygen-deficient NaNbO3 single crystal: micro-Raman, dielectric and dilatometric studies

Micro‐Raman studies of oxygen‐deficient gray‐colored NaNbO3 single crystals have shown that at room temperature both antiferroelectric P and ferroelectric Q phases are present simultaneously as separate regions tens of micrometers in size. Phase transitions in P and Q regions have been elucidated by dielectric, dilatometric and micro‐Raman studies. For the first time, the sequence of phase transitions between antiferroelectric phase P and ferroelectric Q and N phases has been revealed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Micro‐Raman studies of oxygen‐deficient gray‐colored NaNbO3 single crystals have shown that at room temperature both antiferroelectric P and ferroelectric Q phases are present simultaneously as separate regions tens of micrometers in size. For the first time, the sequence of phase transitions between antiferroelectric phase P and ferroelectric Q and N phases has been revealed.