Effect of some Me2+ impurity ions on the lattice parameter of KCI crystals

The effect of concentration of substitutional Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions on the lattice parameter of KCI crystals is examined. The amount of lattice contraction induced by the alcaline earths ions qualitatively correlates with the pertinent ionic radii values (relative unit cell contraction induced by one impurity dipole amounts to −0.905, −0.110 and −0.020 for Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺ ions, respectively). The initial drop of lattice parameter observed at low Me²⁺ concentration is tentatively ascribed to the drop of dislocation density. In Pb²⁺ doped crystals except for the above initial drop, at higher dopant concentration no effect upon the lattice parameter is found.