Pyroelectric Properties and Applications of Lithium Tantalate Crystals
Jiashun Si, Xuefeng Xiao, Yan Zhang, Yan Huang, Shuaijie Liang, Qingyan Xu, Huan Zhang, Lingling Ma, Cui Yang, Xuefeng Zhang
Abstract
Lithium tantalate crystals, as a type of pyroelectric material, stand out from many other pyroelectric materials due to the advantages of high Curie temperature, large pyroelectric coefficient, high figure of merits, and environmental friendliness. Due to the pyroelectric effect caused by their spontaneous polarization, lithium tantalate crystals have broad application prospects in wide spectral bandwidth and uncooled pyroelectric detectors. This article reviews the pyroelectric properties of lithium tantalate crystals and evaluates methods for pyroelectric properties, methods for modulating pyroelectric properties, and pyroelectric detectors and their applications. The prospects of lithium tantalate thin films, doped lithium tantalate crystals, and near stoichiometric lithium tantalate crystals as response components for pyroelectric detectors are also discussed.