Influence of NH4-Rb substitution on the phase transitions with different kinds of proton disorder in mixed [(NH4)1–x Rb x ]3H(SO4)2 crystals

Abstract

The role of ammonium ions in order–disorder ferroelastic, ferroelectric and structural phase transitions was studied in mixed [(NH4)1–x Rb x ]3H(SO4)2 0 < x < 1 crystals by dielectric spectroscopy and ac calorimetry. A new superprotonic phase was detected in compounds with x > 0·6. It was found that small Rb concentrations, x < 0·05, strongly smear out the temperature anomalies of dielectric constant and specific heat for phase transitions II–III, III–IV, IV–V and V–VIII. At x > 0·09 these phase transitions are fully suppressed. Finally, for Rb concentrations 0·05 < x < 0·9 a proton glass phase appears below 35 K.