Weak ferroelectricity of potassium niobate K4Nb6O17 single crystal grown by pulling down technique

Although potassium niobate K4Nb6O17 single crystal is easy to absorb moisture due to the intercalation of water molecules in the crystal, single crystals can be grown in fiber shape using an original pulling down method. K4Nb6O17 single crystals are easy to break down in plate shape by cleavage which is in turn affected by moisture. The dielectric constant and electric polarization measurements show that K4Nb6O17 single crystal is with weak ferroelectricity.

► Potassium niobate crystal in fiber shape can be grown as single phase.
► Single crystals are easy to break down by cleavage in plate shape.
► Cleavage is affected by moisture.
► Weak ferroelectricity is observed.