X-ray study of the low-temperature phase transitions in LiKSO₄

Abstract

Abstract Lattice parameters of LiKSO4 have been measured in the temperature range 155–300 K with an X-ray single-crystal Bond diffractometer. Below 180 K LiKSO4 transforms on cooling into an orthorhombic phase. Above this temperature there is a broad range of an intermediate hexagonal phase which depends on the real structure of the sample and differs considerably on cooling and on heating. The anomalies in the physical properties of LiKSO4 reported in the literature have been explained. The crystal structure of the low-temperature and intermediate phase, as well as the mechanism of the phase transitions, are suggested and discussed.