Infrared studies of phase transitions in ferroelectric (C5H5NH)5Bi2Br11

Infrared spectra (3500–500 cm−1) of polycrystalline (C5H5NH)5Bi2Br11 samples were investigated within the temperature range 27–456 K. The assignments of the observed bands in the spectra measured at 27, 310 and 456 K are proposed. A temperature dependence of the wavenumbers and full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the bands arising from some internal vibrations of pyridinium cations are analysed in order to explain the role of cations in the mechanism of the phase transition at 118 (paraelectric–ferroelectric) and 403 K. It was found that numerous bands arising from the internal modes of the cations exhibit the splitting in the vicinity of both phase transitions, that indicates a distinct changes in the motional state of the pyridinium moieties.