Tungsten bronze Sr_1-<i>x</i>Ba_<i>x</i>Nb₂O₆: A case history of versatility

Abstract

Abstract We review the chronological development of ferroelectric tungsten bronze Sr1-x Ba x Nb2O6 (SBN) single crystals in terms of crystal growth and applications ranging from pyroelectric to surface acoustic wave (SAW) to nonlinear optics, with specific emphasis on the compositions SBN:60, SBN:75 and SBN:50. In addition to a number of bulk crystal applications, these crystals are also now being used as substrates for the growth of various lattice-matched thin films, including ferroelectric and superconducting oxide materials.