A structural study of the ferroei-ectric phase of Rochelle salt

Abstract

Abstract The crystal structure of Rochelle salt in the ferroelectric phase has been determined by means of X-ray diffraction. R-factor is 0.069. Large thermal vibrations are observed for all the atoms. The displacements of atoms due to the appearance of the spontaneous polarization are presented, which are parallel to the longest principal axis of the thermal motion ellipsoids and confirm the disordered model proposed Iwata el al. Discussions are made on the importance of the interactions between O(8) atom and K ions for the ferroelectric activity.