Low-temperature electrical conductivity of congruent lithium niobate crystals

Abstract

The electrical conductivity of lithium niobate crystals was investigated at temperatures between 80 and 450 K as a function of the oxidation-reduction annealing conditions. The results are interpreted in terms of polaron electrical conductivity at room temperature and above. A reduction in the measurement temperature leads to “freezing out” of small-radius polarons, and hopping of Heitler-London bipolarons via unfilled NbLi sites becomes the main mechanism responsible for the electrical conductivity.