Ferroelastic Phase Transition of BiVO 4 Single Crystals with Prominent W -Domain Walls by Stress-Strain Hysteresis Measurements

Abstract

The phase transition of BiVO₄ crystals with prominent W-domain walls was investigated by carrying out stress-strain hysteresis measurements. The change in the strain under a stress of 0.4 MPa was determined, and the non-linear behavior of the strain below T_C was found to be due to the switching of the ferroelastic domains. Above T_C , the strain has a minimum value, which indicates the presence of a paraelastic phase. A configuration of domain boundaries with two orientations separated by parallel lines was observed with polarizing microscopy in the ferroelastic phase, and these domain walls are not present in the paraelastic phase. Further, the stress-strain hysteresis loop has a shape typical of a ferroelastic phase below T_C , and above T_C has a shape indicative of a paraelastic phase. These results show that BiVO₄ crystals undergo a ferroelastic phase transition near T_C = 255^° C.

Keywords

BiVO4 ferroelasticity stress-strain hysteresis loop phase transition twin structure.

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