Dynamical study by Raman scattering of the ferroelectric phase transition of the disubstituted diacetylene 1,6-bis(2,4-dinitrophenoxy)-2,4-hexadiyne (DNP) Original Research Article

Dynamical study by Raman scattering of single monomer crystals of 1,6-bis-(2,4-dinitrophenoxy)-2,4-hexadiyne (DNP) has been performed in the low- and high-temperature phase (Tc ≈ 46 K). A soft mode characterized by a weak and constant damping is clearly observed in the low-temperature phase; this structural instability presents a displacive character. The critical exponent has been determined from the variation of other low-frequency modes which are coupled with the order parameter. Interesting additional information on the molecular conformation is given by the study of high-frequency modes. These results are in good agreement with dielectric and calorimetric measurements and they indicate either a tricritical or a weakly first order transition.