Thermal properties of cubic KTa1-xNbxO3 crystals

Cubic potassium tantalite niobate [KTa1-xNbxO3 (KTN)] crystals of large size, good quality, and varying Nb concentration have been grown by the Czochralski method and their thermal properties have been systematically studied. The melting point, molar enthalpy of fusion, and molar entropy of fusion of the crystals were determined to be: 1536.9 K, 12 068.521 J mol(-1), and 7.85 J K-1 mol(-1) for KTa0.67Nb0.33O3; and 1520.61 K, 15 352.511 J mol(-1), and 10.098 J K-1 mol(-1) for KTa0.67Nb0.33O3, respectively. Based on the data, the Jackson factor was calculated to be 0.994f and 1.214f for KTa0.67Nb0.33O3 and KTa0.63Nb0.37O3, respectively. The thermal expansion coefficients over the temperature range of 298.15-773.15 K are: alpha=4.0268x10(-6)/K, 6.4428x10(-6)/K, 6.5853x10(-6)/K for KTaO3, KTa0.67Nb0.33O3, and KTa0.63Nb0.37O3, respectively. The density follows an almost linear decrease when the temperature increases=from 298.15 to 773.15 K. The measured specific heats at 303.15 K are: 0.375 J g(-1) K-1 for KTaO3; 0.421 J g(-1) K-1 for KTa0.67Nb0.33O3, and 0.430 J g(-1) K-1 for KTa0.63Nb0.37O3 The thermal diffusion coefficients of the crystals were measured over the temperature range from 303.15-563.15 K. The calculated thermal conductivity values of KTaO3, KTa0.67Nb0.33O3, and KTa0.63Nb0.37O3 at 303.15 K are 8.551, 5.592, and 4.489 W m(-1) K-1, respectively. The variation of these thermal properties versus Nb concentration is qualitatively analyzed. These results show that crystalline KTN is a promising material for optical applications. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.