Effects of element substitution on the pyroelectric phase transition of stuffed-tridymite-type BaZnGeO4

Abstract

Abstract Effects of element substitution on the phase transition between different pyroelectric phases of the stuffed-tridymite-type oxide, BaZnGeO 4 , are examined by dielectric measurements on BaZn 1− x M x GeO 4 ( M =Ni, Co, and Mn) with x =0.05 and 0.10. The Ni 2+ -substitution is found to suppress strongly the phase transition, in marked contrast to the cases of Co 2+ and Mn 2+ that have only subtle influences on the transition temperature. Internal distortions of M O 4 tetrahedra due to the Jahn–Teller effect might play a major role in the variation of transition temperature induced by the element substitution.