The Influence of NH4 Doping on the Elastic Properties of RDA Crystals

The Influence of NH4 Doping on the Elastic Properties of RDA Crystals | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article The Influence of NH 4 Doping on the Elastic Properties of RDA Crystals B Mroz, Z Trybula, S Mielcarek, A Trzaskowska This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7056793/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 07 Nov, 2025 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted 10 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract We report a systematic study of the elastic and dynamic properties of mixed Rb₁₋ₓ(NH₄)ₓH₂AsO₄ (RADA) crystals using high-resolution Brillouin light scattering over a broad temperature range (40–300 K). By varying the ammonium concentration we reveal how NH₄⁺ substitution alters the elastic stiffness tensor, phase transition temperatures, phonon damping, and order parameter relaxation dynamics. The results show a clear evolution from ferroelectric to antiferroelectric and proton-glass behavior as the ammonium content increases. We observe enhanced elastic softening, increased phonon scattering, and reduced relaxation times with doping, indicating a growing degree of structural disorder and frustration in the hydrogen-bond network. The observed changes in phonon thermal conductivity correlate with these elastic anomalies. Our findings highlight the potential of chemical substitution in tuning the mechanical and thermal properties of hydrogen-bonded ferroelectric crystals, with implications for designing adaptive low-temperature optical and memory materials. Physical sciences/Materials science Physical sciences/Physics Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files suplem06072025.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 07 Nov, 2025 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 11 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 10 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 08 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 17 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 14 Jul, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 11 Jul, 2025 Editor invited by journal 11 Jul, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 08 Jul, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 07 Jul, 2025 First submitted to journal 06 Jul, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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