Lithium Niobate Single Crystals and Powders Reviewed—Part I
Oswaldo Sánchez-Dena,
Cesar David Fierro-Ruiz,
Sergio David Villalobos-Mendoza,
Diana María Carrillo Flores,
José Trinidad Elizalde-Galindo,
Rurik Farías
Affiliations
Oswaldo Sánchez-Dena
Instituto de Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Av. Del Charro 450 Norte, Ciudad Juárez 32310, Mexico
Cesar David Fierro-Ruiz
Departamento de Mecatrónica y Energías Renovables, Universidad Tecnológica de Ciudad Juárez, Avenida Universidad Tecnológica 3051, Colonia Lote Bravo II, Ciudad Juárez 32695, Mexico
Sergio David Villalobos-Mendoza
Instituto de Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Av. Del Charro 450 Norte, Ciudad Juárez 32310, Mexico
Diana María Carrillo Flores
Instituto de Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Av. Del Charro 450 Norte, Ciudad Juárez 32310, Mexico
José Trinidad Elizalde-Galindo
Instituto de Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Av. Del Charro 450 Norte, Ciudad Juárez 32310, Mexico
Rurik Farías
Instituto de Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Av. Del Charro 450 Norte, Ciudad Juárez 32310, Mexico
A review of lithium niobate single crystals and polycrystals in the form of powders has been prepared. Both the classical and recent literature on this topic are revisited. It is composed of two parts with sections. The current part discusses the earliest developments in this field. It treats in detail the basic concepts, the crystal structure, some of the established indirect methods to determine the chemical composition, and the main mechanisms that lead to the manifestation of ferroelectricity. Emphasis has been put on the powdered version of this material: methods of synthesis, the accurate determination of its chemical composition, and its role in new and potential applications are discussed. Historical remarks can be found scattered throughout this contribution. Particularly, an old conception of the crystal structure thought as a derivative structure from one of higher symmetry by generalized distortion is here revived.