No abstract

Ba2LnFeNb4O15 (Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm, and Eu) single crystals were grown from high-temperature solution under controlled atmosphere. Chemical, structural, and dielectric characterizations were performed on four crystals with tetragonal tungsten bronze (TTB) structure. The main difference between the four crystals’ compositions is the proportion of rare-earth, as well as vacancies, located in the square site. All crystals displayed an incommensurately modulated structure at room temperature in the paraelectric state. The corresponding basic structures were refined using the P4/mbm space group (R = 0.0274; 0.0416; 0.0328; 0.0357 for Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm, and Eu, respectively). Examination of the structural parameters confirmed the central role played by square-shaped channels in the crystal chemistry of these materials. All crystals display a relaxor behavior with T m (1 MHz) ranging from 110 to 270 K. The chemical, structural, and physical properties of the crystals are discussed and compared, for the latter, with those of corresponding ceramics.