Dielectric, thermal and pyroelectric properties of ferroelectric bismuth vanadate single crystals

Single crystals of $Bi_2V0_{5.5}$ (BiV) which is n = 1 member of Aurivillius family of oxides, have been grown by slowly cooling the melts of the prereacted compound. The dielectric, pyroelectric and ferroelectric properties have been studied along the c - axis as a function of temperature of the first time. The ferroelectric Curie temperature (720 K) of these single crystals is confirmed by dielectric, pyroelectric, specific heat and hysteresis loop studies. The dielectric and specific heat data obtained well beyond 720 K confirm that BiV undergoes yet another crystallographic transition at 827 K. The pyroelectric figures of merit from the point of view of different applications have been calculated at 300 K by combining pyroelectric, dielectric and thermal properties