In both phases, the structure crystallizes in the monoclinic system. The ferroelectric phase with a = 6.8145(3) Angstrom, b = 7.7170(3) Angstrom, c = 11.694(1) Angstrom, beta = 124.549(4)degrees, space group Pc, V = 506.52(6) Angstrom(3), Z = 2 was determined at T = 173 K and the paraelectric phase with a = 6.808(2) Angstrom, b = 7.682(3) Angstrom, c = 11.667(7) Angstrom, beta = 124.75(6)degrees, space group P2(1)/c, V = 501.4(5) A(3), Z = 2. was determined at T = 293 K. Both structures were solved by automated Patterson methods and refined by least squares methods. For the ferroelectric phase final refinement resulted in R = 0.038 for 3763 reflections (with I > 2 sigma(I)). Refinement of the paraelectric modification revealed disorder of the Sn2+ cations (the two Sn sites being separated by approximately 0.34 Angstrom) and resulted in R = 0.062 for 2211 reflections (with I > 2 sigma(I)).
Comparison of the two structures showed that the tin ions shift to positions of about 0.13 Angstrom from an individual disorder-site in the high temperature phase (paraelectric) to the corresponding tin position in the low temperature phase (ferroelectric). The shift from the average Sn-position in the paraelectric phase to the Sn-positions in the ferroelectric phase is about 0.30 Angstrom (on average 10 degrees off the vector a + c), and is clearly related to the spontaneous polarization. Moreover, the average direction of these displacements is perpendicular to the modulation wave vector direction in the incommensurate phase, showing the prime importance of such movements to the incommensurate phase formation.
KeyWords Plus:MONOCLINIC K2ZNBR4, TRANSITION
Addresses:de Gelder R, Univ Nijmegen, Dept Inorgan Chem, Crystallog Lab, Nijmegen SON Res Ctr, Toernooiveld 1, NL-6525 ED Nijmegen, Netherlands.Univ Nijmegen, Dept Inorgan Chem, Crystallog Lab, Nijmegen SON Res Ctr, NL-6525 ED Nijmegen, Netherlands.Univ Nijmegen, Mat Res Inst, NL-6525 ED Nijmegen, Netherlands.Uzhgorod State Univ, Dept Chem & Phys Solid State, UA-294000 Uzhgorod, Ukraine.
Publisher:R OLDENBOURG VERLAG, MUNCHEN
IDS Number:YU498
ISSN:0044-2968