Unveiling the Defect Structure of Lithium Niobate with Nuclear Methods

X-ray and neutron diffraction studies succeeded in the 1960s to determine principal structural properties of congruent lithium niobate. However, nature intrinsic defects related non-stoichiometry this material remained an object controversial discussion. In addition, incorporation mechanism for dopants crystal lattice, showing a solubility range from about 0.1 mol% rare earths 9 some elements (e.g., Ti Mg), stayed unresolved. Various different models formation these defect structures were developed required experimental verification. paper, we review outstanding role nuclear physics based methods process unveiling kind formed niobate rules governing dopants. Complementary results isostructural compound tantalate are reviewed case ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition. We focus especially on use ion beam analysis under channeling conditions direct determination dopant lattice sites Perturbed Angular Correlation measurements probing local environment host yielding independent complementary information.