Solid State Ionics, Vol.86-88, 669-672, 1996
Heat-Capacity and Phase-Behavior in (NH4)(2)HPO4 and (NH4)(2)Haso4
High-resolution ac-calorimetric and low-frequency dielectric measurements have been used to study the energy changes and phase behavior of (NH4)(2)HPO4 and (NH4)(2)HAsO4 in the 80-350 K temperature range. For (NH4)(2)HPO4, two distinct and reversible heat capacity and dielectric constant anomalies are identified, one at 174 K and the other at 246 K. Due to the gradual change of these quantities in the 174 K transition region, it is suggestive of a second-order phase transition. However, the sudden change of the dielectric constant near 246 K phase transition seems to indicate of being nearly first-order. For (NH4)(2)HAsO4, only one transition is observed near 210 K, for a freshly prepared sample, as revealed by both the heat capacity and dielectric constant data. But, when the sample were annealed above 350 K and then cooled, two transitions were observed at 210 K and 260 K, respectively, which is suggestive of an induced metastable phase in the 210-260 K intermediate region.