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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Ab initiothermodynamics ofBacSr(1−c)TiO3solid solutions

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Based on ab initio calculations for a number of the ${\mathrm{Ba}}_{\mathrm{c}}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{(1\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{c})}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ (BST) superlattices, we developed a thermodynamic approach to these solid solutions. In particular, we calculate the BST phase diagram and show that at relatively low temperatures (below $400\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ for $c=0.5$ and $300\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ for $c=0.1$) the spinodal decomposition of the solid solution occurs. As a result, we predict for small Ba concentrations formation of $\mathrm{Ba}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ nanoregions in a predominantly $\mathrm{Sr}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ matrix and vice versa, which is confirmed by the Raman, polarization, ultrasonic, neutron diffraction, and diffusion experiments.