ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Data Journal

Improper ferroelectricity in hexagonal tungsten bronzes

Abstract: We address the detailed atomistic mechanism of ferroelectricity in a new family of oxides typified by the composition CsNbW2O9. Contrary to the mechanism in most ferroelectrics, the characteristic electrical polarisation is not caused spontaneously by polar displacements of ionic species in the crystal, but arises as a secondary consequence of a non-polar lattice instability (so-called 'improper' ferroelectricity). These compounds therefore have something in common with the well-known improper ferroelectric YMnO3, but the similarity is based on symmetry considerations (they are both hexagonal crystals) rather than any direct chemical or structural similarity. We propose to study the detailed nature of this new family of improper ferroelectrics, particularly the transition into the ferroelectric state and the crystallographic features that drive it, for which HRPD is essential.

Principal Investigator: Professor Philip Lightfoot
Experimenter: Professor Finlay Morrison
Experimenter: Dr Lucy Clark
Local Contact: Dr Kevin Knight
Experimenter: Ms Charlotte Dixon
Experimenter: Dr Jason McNulty
Local Contact: Dr Dominic Fortes
Local Contact: Dr Kevin Knight

DOI: 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB1510025

ISIS Experiment Number: RB1510025

Publisher: STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source

Data format: RAW/Nexus
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Data Citation

The recommended format for citing this dataset in a research publication is as:
[author], [date], [title], [publisher], [doi]

For Example:
Professor Philip Lightfoot et al; (2015): Improper ferroelectricity in hexagonal tungsten bronzes, STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB1510025

Data is released under the CC-BY-4.0 license.