Structures of Impurity Defects in Lithium Niobate and Tantalate Derived from Electron Paramagnetic and Electron Nuclear Double Resonance Data

Point intrinsic and extrinsic defects, especially paramagnetic ions of transition metals and rare-earth elements, have essential influence on properties of lithium niobate, LN and tantalate, LT, and often determine their suitability for numerous applications. Discussions about structures of the defe...

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Main Authors: Valentin G. Grachev, Galina I. Malovichko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-03-01
Series:Crystals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/11/4/339
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author Valentin G. Grachev
Galina I. Malovichko
author_facet Valentin G. Grachev
Galina I. Malovichko
author_sort Valentin G. Grachev
collection DOAJ
description Point intrinsic and extrinsic defects, especially paramagnetic ions of transition metals and rare-earth elements, have essential influence on properties of lithium niobate, LN and tantalate, LT, and often determine their suitability for numerous applications. Discussions about structures of the defects in LN/LT have lasted for decades. Many experimental methods facilitate progress in determining the structures of impurity centers. This paper gives current bird’s eye view on contributions of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), and Electron Nuclear Double Resonance (ENDOR) studies to the determination of impurity defect structures in LN and LT crystals for a broad audience of researchers and students. Symmetry and charge compensation considerations restrict a number of possible structures. Comparison of measured angular dependences of ENDOR frequencies with calculated ones for Li and Nb substitution using dipole–dipole approximation allows unambiguously to determine the exact location of paramagnetic impurities. Models with two lithium vacancies explain angular dependencies of EPR spectra for Me<sup>3+</sup> ions substituting for Li<sup>+</sup> like Cr, Er, Fe, Gd, Nd, and Yb. Self-compensation of excessive charges through equalization of concentrations of Me<sup>3+</sup>(Li<sup>+</sup>) and Me<sup>3+</sup>(Nb<sup>5+</sup>) and appearance of interstitial Li<sup>+</sup> in the structural vacancy near Me<sup>3+</sup>(Nb<sup>5+</sup>) take place in stoichiometric LN/LT due to lack of intrinsic defects.
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spelling doaj.art-0b4368d3dc06428ea882cffcd52446fa2023-11-21T13:04:39ZengMDPI AGCrystals2073-43522021-03-0111433910.3390/cryst11040339Structures of Impurity Defects in Lithium Niobate and Tantalate Derived from Electron Paramagnetic and Electron Nuclear Double Resonance DataValentin G. Grachev0Galina I. Malovichko1Physics Department, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USAPhysics Department, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USAPoint intrinsic and extrinsic defects, especially paramagnetic ions of transition metals and rare-earth elements, have essential influence on properties of lithium niobate, LN and tantalate, LT, and often determine their suitability for numerous applications. Discussions about structures of the defects in LN/LT have lasted for decades. Many experimental methods facilitate progress in determining the structures of impurity centers. This paper gives current bird’s eye view on contributions of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), and Electron Nuclear Double Resonance (ENDOR) studies to the determination of impurity defect structures in LN and LT crystals for a broad audience of researchers and students. Symmetry and charge compensation considerations restrict a number of possible structures. Comparison of measured angular dependences of ENDOR frequencies with calculated ones for Li and Nb substitution using dipole–dipole approximation allows unambiguously to determine the exact location of paramagnetic impurities. Models with two lithium vacancies explain angular dependencies of EPR spectra for Me<sup>3+</sup> ions substituting for Li<sup>+</sup> like Cr, Er, Fe, Gd, Nd, and Yb. Self-compensation of excessive charges through equalization of concentrations of Me<sup>3+</sup>(Li<sup>+</sup>) and Me<sup>3+</sup>(Nb<sup>5+</sup>) and appearance of interstitial Li<sup>+</sup> in the structural vacancy near Me<sup>3+</sup>(Nb<sup>5+</sup>) take place in stoichiometric LN/LT due to lack of intrinsic defects.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/11/4/339impurityintrinsic defectparamagnetic ionlithium niobatelithium tantalateelectron paramagnetic resonance
spellingShingle Valentin G. Grachev
Galina I. Malovichko
Structures of Impurity Defects in Lithium Niobate and Tantalate Derived from Electron Paramagnetic and Electron Nuclear Double Resonance Data
Crystals
impurity
intrinsic defect
paramagnetic ion
lithium niobate
lithium tantalate
electron paramagnetic resonance
title Structures of Impurity Defects in Lithium Niobate and Tantalate Derived from Electron Paramagnetic and Electron Nuclear Double Resonance Data
title_full Structures of Impurity Defects in Lithium Niobate and Tantalate Derived from Electron Paramagnetic and Electron Nuclear Double Resonance Data
title_fullStr Structures of Impurity Defects in Lithium Niobate and Tantalate Derived from Electron Paramagnetic and Electron Nuclear Double Resonance Data
title_full_unstemmed Structures of Impurity Defects in Lithium Niobate and Tantalate Derived from Electron Paramagnetic and Electron Nuclear Double Resonance Data
title_short Structures of Impurity Defects in Lithium Niobate and Tantalate Derived from Electron Paramagnetic and Electron Nuclear Double Resonance Data
title_sort structures of impurity defects in lithium niobate and tantalate derived from electron paramagnetic and electron nuclear double resonance data
topic impurity
intrinsic defect
paramagnetic ion
lithium niobate
lithium tantalate
electron paramagnetic resonance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/11/4/339
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