Studies of the heat capacity and thermal expansion of the Na0.95K0.05NbO3solid solution

The heat capacity and thermal expansion of ceramic samples of the Na0.95K0.05NbO3solid solution have been investigated over a wide temperature range of 100–750 K. The observed anomalies in the heat capacity and thermal expansion at T4= 297 K, T3= 535 K, T2= 665 K, and T1≈ 710 K correspond to the sequences of phase transitions N→ Q→ G→ S→ T1. It has been shown that, as a result of the phase transitions, the unit cell volume at T4and T2decreases, and at T3and T1, increases with increasing temperature. The directions of the shift of the phase transition temperatures induced by hydrostatic pressure have been determined. It has been established that all structural transformations are accompanied by relatively small variations in the entropy. Different mechanisms of the structural distortions have been discussed.