Des recherches très importantes ont été dédiées à l'étude des composés ferroélectriques de type bronze de tungstène quadratique (TTB). Cette thèse concerne la synthèse et la caractérisation de 7 matériaux TTB de formule générale A6M2M'8O30 (A = Sr2+, Ba2+ ou Pb2+, M = Ti4+, Zr4+ ou HF4+; M' = Nb5+ ou Ta5+). Ces composés cristallins de grande taille ∼100 nm ont été synthétisés sous forme de poudre. Les moyennes expérimentales : diffractions des rayons X, spectroscopie Raman, la microscopie électronique MEB et MET, l'optique non linéaire ONL, ont permis d'établir des relations étroites entre structure et propriétés physiques. Les susceptibilités optiques non linéaires de 2eme et 3eme ordres, χ(2), χ(3) de chaque composés ont été déterminées et les valeurs résultantes du χ(3) ne montrent pas les mêmes caractéristiques que χ(2), car le signal de THG est moins dépendant de structure que SHG qui requiert un milieu non-centrosymétrique. Le décalage fréquentiel (Δσ) des modes de vibrations entre les structures à base de strontium(Sr) et celles à base de Barium(Ba) a été constaté afin d'identifier les signatures propres de ces composés. L'interprétation de ces poudres n'était pas facile car les pics sont très délicats. Nos mesures expérimentales montrent clairement que les positions des pics peuvent être modifiées par le changement cationique au sein des matériaux, plus la maille cristalline est rigide, plus on a des pics plus discernables. La différence est nettement visible là ou l'émission est autour de 808 cm-1 pour la structure (Sr), alors que pour le (Br) elle est autour de 780cm-1. Nous attribuons ce Δσ (28cm-1) à la transition de groupe de symétrie spatiale de Pba2 vers P4bm. L'ensemble des résultats décrits dans ce travail ont montrés la grande variété des paramètres sur lesquels il est possible d'agir afin d'optimiser les compositions en vue d'une application spécifique. / Recently, very significant research has been devoted to the study of ferroelectric compounds of tetragonal tungsten bronze (TTB). This thesis deals with the synthesis and characterization of 7 TTB's material with general formula A6M2M'8O30 (A = Sr2+, Ba2+ or Pb2+, M = Ti4+, Zr4+ or HF4+, M '= Nb5+ or Ta5+). These crystalline compounds of large size ~ 100 nm were synthesized in powder form. The experimental Technics: X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy SEM and TEM and nonlinear optics NLO, allowed us to establish close relationships between structure and physical properties. The nonlinear 2nd and 3rd order optical susceptibility χ(2), χ(3) of all compounds were determined and the resulting values of χ(3) did not show the same characteristics as measures of χ(2) because the THG signal is less dependent on the structure where SHG signal requires a non-centro-symmetric medium. The frequency shift between the vibration modes of structures containing strontium (Sr) and those based on Barium (Ba) has been detailed to identify signatures of these specific compounds. The interpretation of these powders wasn't that easy as these peaks are very delicate but our experimental results clearly show that the positions of the peaks can be modified by the change in cation materials, as long as the crystal lattice is more rigid, more we get discernible Raman modes. This difference is clearly visible where the emission is around 808 cm-1 for the structure Sr, whereas the Br it is centered around 780cm-1. We attribute these Δσ (28cm-1) to the transition of spatial symmetry group from Pba2 to P4bm. Results showed the wide variety of settings in which it is possible to act in order to optimize the compositions for a specific application.

Transparent glasses embedded with TTB structured ferroelectric nano/micro crystals (K3Li2Nb5O15, Ba5Li2Ti2Nb8O30) were fabricated in various tellurite and borate based glass matrices and characterized for their physical properties. Nanocrystals of K3Li2Nb5O15 were successfully grown inside tellurite glass matrix via conventional heat-treatment route. Eventhough, tellurite glasses preferentially crystallize only on the surface, bulk uniform crystallization was achieved in the (100-x) TeO2 - x(1.5K2O-Li2O-2.5Nb2O5) system. Heat capacity studies revealed them to be thermodynamically less fragile than any other tellurite glasses ever reported in the literature. Pyroelectric and ferroelectric effects as well as second harmonic generation were demonstrated for the heat treated (glass nanocrystal composites) samples in this system. The conventional method of melt-quenching of constituent oxides could not yield Ba5Li2Ti2Nb8O30 crystallites. So, Ba5Li2Ti2Nb8O30 microcrystals were successfully formed in tellurite glass matrix by mixing pre-reacted Ba5Li2Ti2Nb8O30 ceramic powders with TeO2. The glass transition temperature was found to be the highest ever reported and this system was kinetically strong based on the fragility parameter. Dielectric studies revealed a frequency and temperature independent nature of the dielectric constant and very low dielectric loss. The SHG measurement which was carried out as a function of temperature demonstrated the incidence of blue second harmonic generation in the microcrystals present in the glass matrix. Ba5Li2Ti2Nb8O30 nanocrystals were successfully crystallized in the transparent glass system (100-x)Li2B4O7 – x(Ba5Li2Ti2Nb8O30). Dielectric constant increased while the dielectric loss decreased with the increase in Ba5Li2Ti2Nb8O30 content. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies were carried out to have an insight into the structure of this system. Transmission studies and refractive index measurements were performed and various optical parameters were calculated. Dielectric and transport properties were studied for the glasses and glass nano/microcrystal composites of all the systems reported in this thesis. Li+ ion was found to be responsible for conduction in all these systems. Evolution of self-organized nanopatterns of K3Li2Nb5O15 crystals has been demonstrated in the glass system (100-x) TeO2 - x(1.5K2O-Li2O-2.5Nb2O5) by excimer laser irradiation. The second harmonic signal observed by the Maker fringe technique has been attributed to the presence of well-aligned nano-sized grating structures in the glass system. Glasses belonging to the systems TeO2-K3Li2Nb5O15, TeO2-Ba5Li2Ti2Nb8O30 and V2Te2O9 undergo spinodal decomposition on exposing to KrF pulsed excimer laser. The spinodally phase separated structures were observed on all the surfaces of the samples. Ring shaped patterns were observed on several locations of the samples at higher frequency of laser pulses probably owing to the shock waves produced by the high intense laser beam. Line shaped patterns were found to originate on the sample surfaces when irradiated for longer periods.