We have determined the structure of the paraelectric phase of BaAl2O4, which is a stuffed tridymite, by different TEM techniques and we will describe the phase transition between the ferroelectric room temperature phase and the paraelectric high temperature phase. We have also obtained HREM images of the higly radiation sensitive acristobalite phase of (Si0,9 Ge0,1)O2 and analysed the extended defects in this material.

The stuffed tridymite BaAl2O4 is ferroelectric at room temperature and undergoes a paraelectric-ferroelectric (PEFE) phase transition. The transition is reversible, takes place over a wide temperature range (400K-670K) and has a dynamical character. BaAl2O4 is easily obtained by solid state reaction of BaCO3, and A12O4,. The stoichiometric amounts of the initial reagents were mixed, grinded in an agate mortar under acetone and pressed into a pellet. The pellet was annealed in alumina crucibles at 1000 °C and 1300 °C for 40 h in air and furnace cooled.