Dielectric response of α-LiIO3 acid type crystals

alpha-LiIO3 is often used as non-linear optical material. In view of its preparation, low pH aqueous solutions are used as mother solutions, which give crystals with some hydrogen incorporated to the lattice. Thus, dielectric characterization appears as a very important tool. In this work, the dielectric properties of acid type alpha-LiIO3 crystals (conductivity, permittivity, loss-angle tangent) are investigated as functions of temperature and frequency, through an original method allowing seemingly continuous measurements and avoiding space charge contributions to the measurements. The results show the dipolar and low frequency conductivity contributions to the dielectric response. The role of the protons in this ionic conductor is also discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.