Stoichiometric ratio and doping effects on the thermal properties of sodium potassium sulphate crystals

The influence of stoichiometric ratio on the phase transition of sodium potassium sulphate (Na_xK_1–x)₂SO₄ crystals is investigated in the temperature range 300–500 K. The stoichiometric ratiox is chosen to bex=0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.8 and 0.9. The study has been carried out by using differential scanning calorimetry, DSC technique. The value of the specific heat,C _p, at the transition temperature,T _c , increases asx is increased up tox=0.4 and then decreases for higher values ofx. The change in the specific heat, C _p, is following a relation of the form C _p C _p (T–T _c /T _c )^– with = 0.12 which is in a fair agreement with the 3d Ising model. Insertion of Cu²⁺ ions into the lattice of (Na_xK_1–x)₂SO₄ crystals leads to a multiple peak in the temperature dependence ofC _p. The results are discussed from thermodynamical point of view.We would like to thank Prof. E. F. El-Wahidy, Prof. of Solid State Physics and Head of Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, for his interest and support of this work.