Etude des phases ferroelastiques de Pb3V2O8 : Determination de la maille cristalline de la phase α ferroelectrique basse temperature

The cell parameters of the ferroelastic and ferroelectric phase of Pb₃V₂O₈ (T < 262 K) have been determined by very accurate X-ray powder diffractometry ; at 77 K, $\text{a}\text{= 7.460 (1)}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{b}\text{= 6.191 (1)}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{c}\text{= 9.348 (1)}\text{A}\text{?}$ and $\text{β = 116.63 (1)}\text{A}\text{?}$. This monoclinic cell is characterized by Z = 2 and the space group is A2. Thermal expansion tensors have been measured versus temperature for the three phases α (T < 262K), β (262K < T < 360 K) and γ (T > 360 K). The intermediate phase β is characterized by an important thermal expansion anisotropy and its molecular volume is higher than that of the two other phases α and γ.