Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction of lithium niobate at temperatures up to 1300○-4.80pt○C

Lithium niobate has been studied above its melting point by X-ray diffraction and Raman micro-spectroscopy. For two compositions (congruent and 54 mol% Li 2 O), a strange phenomenon occurs, starting approximately 10°C above melting: solid clusters (30 μm) appear in the liquid, remaining up to higher temperatures. These clusters are identified as ferroelectric lithium niobate by means of Raman and X-ray investigations.