Phase transitions in layered crystals

Abstract

It is demonstrated by analyzing real examples that phase transitions in layered crystals occur like all other solid-state phase transitions by nucleation and crystal growth, but have a specific morphology. There the nucleation is epitaxial, resulting in the rigorous orientation relationship between the polymorphs, such that the direction of molecular layers are preserved. The detailed molecular mechanism of these phase transitions and formation of the laminar domain structures are described and related to the nature of ferroelectrics.