The Electronic Structure and Secondary Pyroelectric Properties of Lithium Tetraborate

Authors

Volodymyr T. Adamiv, Institute of Physical OpticsFollow
Yaroslav V. Burak, Institute of Physical OpticsFollow
David J. Wooten, Air Force Institute of TechnologyFollow
John McClory, Air Force Institute of TechnologyFollow
James Petrosky, Air Force Institute of TechnologyFollow
Ihor Ketsman, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Jie Xiao, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Yaroslav B. Losovyj, Louisiana State University at Baton RougeFollow
Peter A. Dowben, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2010

Citation

Materials 2010, 3, 4550-4579

Comments

© 2010 by the authors

Open access

doi:10.3390/ma3094550

Abstract

We review the pyroelectric properties and electronic structure of Li₂B₄O₇(110) and Li₂B₄O₇(100) surfaces. There is evidence for a pyroelectric current along the [110] direction of stoichiometric Li₂B₄O₇ so that the pyroelectric coefficient is nonzero but roughly 103 smaller than along the [001] direction of spontaneous polarization. Abrupt decreases in the pyroelectric coefficient along the [110] direction can be correlated with anomalies in the elastic stiffness C_33^D contributing to the concept that the pyroelectric coefficient is not simply a vector but has qualities of a tensor, as expected. The time dependent surface photovoltaic charging suggests that surface charging is dependent on crystal orientation and doping, as well as temperature.