| Abstract: | Raman spectroscopic measurements were carried out in the temperature range 10–300 K to understand the low‐temperature antiferroelectric (AFE)–ferroelectric (FE) phase transition in NaNbO3. Several modes in the low wavenumber range were found to disappear, while some new modes appeared across the transition. The temperature dependence of mode wavenumbers suggests that, during cooling, the AFE–FE phase transition begins to occur at 180 K, while the reverse transition starts at 260 K during heating. During cooling, the two phases were found to coexist in the temperature range of 220–160 K. Upon heating, the FE phase is retained up to 240 K and both FE and AFE phases coexist in the temperature range 240–300 K. In contrast to the earlier reports, the present results suggest a different coexistence region and the reverse transition temperature. The reported relaxor‐type FE behaviour over a broad temperature is consistent with the observed coexistence of phases during cooling and heating cycles. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
