The Czochralski growth of doped bismuth-germanium oxide (BGO) and bismuth-silicon oxide (BSO) single crystals

Doped single crystals of BGO and BSO with Cr, Mn, Cu, Ni have been grown. The conditions for the growth of doped single crystals by the Czochralski method have been determined, analyses of distributions of dopants in the crystals have been made. For the Mn, Cr, Cu, doped crystals changes of coloration after illumination with visible light have been observed.     

Morphology of PbI2 Crystals Grown by Gel Method

The single crystals of Lead Iodide have been grown by gel method. X‐ray diffraction studies on these crystals shows that the lattice parameters of grown crystals are almost matching with reported values. The results of detailed studies made on the microstructures of Lead Iodide crystals, have been described. The observations of the faces of these crystals revealed that they have grown by layer as well as spiral mechanisms. The probable role of these parameters is explained along with the surface microstructures on these various shaped crystals.     

Structure perfection of some molecular crystals grown from the melt

Single crystals of anthracene, naphthalene, phenazine and anthracene sym. trinitrobenzene (TNB) were examined using X-ray topography. Low-angle boundaries were observed and misorientation vectors of adjacent mosaic blocks have been estimated. Using an X-ray camera with oscillating film dislocation density in crystals has been evaluated. Anthracene-TNB crystals showed a much higher structure perfection than the other crystals.     

Effect of Ultrasonics on Agglomeration

Crystal size distribution of potassium aluminium sulphate dodekahydrate prepared under various conditions has been used for characterization of the degree of agglomeration of crystals. Six series of batch precipitation experiments with batch times from 2 to 80 minutes have been represented by a) dried crystals, b) the same crystals partially de-agglomerated before the measurement, c) wet crystals taken directly from the batch, d) the same crystals partially de-agglomerated before the measurement, e) wet crystals taken directly from the batch occurring under ultrasonic action, and f) these crystals partially de-agglomerated just before the measurement. Degree of agglomeration decreases in this sequence.     

Physico-chemical properties of pure and x-ray irradiated single crystals of KAP

Single crystals of potassium hydrogen phthalate (KAP) have been grown by slow evaporation method from aqueous solutions. Thermal analyses indicate that KAP crystals decompose into phthalic anhydride and KOH around 520 K. Electrical properties of single crystals of KAP have been studied along with the effect of X-ray irradiation of the crystals. The electrical transport appears to be associated with tunneling of protons. The irradiated crystal exhibits lower dielectric constant and higher ac conductivity.     

Stoichiometric dependence of electrical characteristics in WSSe single crystals grown by direct and chemical vapour transport techniques

Single crystals of tungsten sulphoselenide (WSSe) have been grown by both direct and chemical vapour transport techniques. The crystals have been subjected to Hall effect and resistivity measurements for their electrical characterization. The observed differences in the electrical resistivity, type of conduction, and activation energy have been attributed to the stoichiometric differences between the crystals grown by the two techniques. The crystals grown by chemical vapour transport technique with iodine as the transport agent have been found to be more stoichiometric.     

Investigations of the growth mechanism and morphology of silver crystals grown electrolytically in gels

Gel medium has been used for the electrolytic growth of silver dendrites and single crystals of a variety of morphological features and forms. Microtopographic studies of the crystals have been carried out using optical and scanning electron microscopes. Some unusual growth surface morphologies have been observed. The surfaces of some of the crystals have a high degree of perfection. Sufficient experimental evidences are obtained for the striated growth of crystals and twin plane re-entrant edge (TPRE] mechanism of growth. The formation of tertiary three-dimensional (T3D) dendrites and dendrites with obliquely forward and backward branchings at different stages of growth have been investigated.     

Growth of CdBr2 single crystals by zone refining

CdBr₂ has been purified using a 12-pass zone-refining technique. Single crystals grown from the starting material showed arcing in the X-ray oscillation photographs whereas this is absent in the crystals grown from zone refined material. These crystals are found to be 6R type. In order to study the effect of impurities, DC conductivity studies were made on the crystals at various stages of purification. Surface morphology of the crystals have been studied using an optical microscope.     

X-ray,optical and electrical study of melt-grown CdI2 single crystals

CdI₂ has been purified using the zone-refining technique by giving 20 passes. Single crystals grown from the starting material showed arcing in the X-ray oscillation photographs whereas it is absent in the crystals grown from the zone refined material. These crystals are found to be of the 4 H type. DC conductivity studies were made on these crystals at various stages of purification. The surface morphology of these crystals have been studied using an optical microscope.     

Crystal growth of potassium perchlorate in gelatin gels

The suitability of gelatin gel for the growth of good quality single crystals of potassium perchlorate has been investigated. Growth in a more rigid and simple apparatus has been accomplished and described here. The grown crystals were identified by X-ray analysis. A study of the relation of crystal morphology to concentration of feed solutions and growth temperature has also been made. Studies made on chemical etching of the cleavages have revealed that the crystals are relatively perfect. At times, large liquid inclusions which introduce stresses in the crystals are responsible for a large dislocation concentration.     

Characterization of bismuth germanate crystals grown by EFG method

Bismuth germanate shaped crystals have been grown by the EFG (Stepanov) method. The correlation between growth rate, shape of crystals, their optical and scintillation parameters has been analysed. Optical and scintillation characteristics of the EFG crystals are similar to those obtained with Czochralski grown crystals, however, growth rate in EFG is by 2.5 times larger. Also we compare the photochromic effect under UV‐irradiation in EFG and Czochralski grown crystals. Material losses at fabrication of plates, pixels, and rods from EFG shaped plates may be reduced by ∼50% compared to large diameter boules.     

Crystalline quality of lysozyme crystals grown in agarose and silica gels studied by X-ray diffraction techniques

The crystalline quality of hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) crystals grown in agarose gels and in silica gels has been characterized by measuring resolution and mosaic spread. These crystals have been compared to solution grown ones. A quasi-plane-wave X-ray topography study has also been done on some crystals. The study concerns triclinic, monoclinic, orthorhombic and tetragonal forms of HEWL. One observes that the resolution is not really changed by gelling the growth medium, even for rather high gel contents (agarose 0.5% wt/wt). On the contrary, mosaicity, characterized through reflection profile recordings allows to differentiate crystals grown by different techniques: agarose gel grown crystals are, on average, better than solution grown ones but the best crystals are obtained in silica gel. X-ray topography confirms this result.     

Growth and properties of calcium tungstate

CaWO₄ single crystals have been grown and compared by three different high temperature solution methods, viz. the normal flux-cooling procedure, the indirect flux-reaction technique and the isothermal flux-evaporation method. The typical as-grown bipyramidal crystals obtained by these methods have been found to be mostly large and perfect with varying degree of transparency. The crystals are characterised by using EDAX, X-ray diffraction, electrical conduction, micromechanical tests and chemical etching. The assessment of various characteristics of the grown crystals is likely to show enormous usefulness of the flux grown crystals.     

A Study on the Microhardness of Organic Molecular Solids

An extensive study of the variation of microhardness with load in a large number of crystals of some organic molecular solids has been carried out. The plots of hardness versus load show peaks at specific loads and these have been attributed to the different slip systems in these crystals. These slip systems are in accordance with the crystal structure of these crystals and are dependent on the shape and way the molecules are geometrically deposed in the unit cell of the crystals.     

Microstructures of gel-grown ammonium hydrogen tartrate single crystals

Single crystals of ammonium hydrogen tartrate (AHT) have been grown in silica gels by employing the controlled reaction between ammonium chloride and tartaric acid. Transparent AHT crystals upto 24 × 4 × 3 mm³ in size have been grown at room temperature. Optical and electron-optical studies have been made on the various surface structures of {010} faces of the grown crystals. A variety of growth striations and growth hillocks have been observed. Growth layers modified by the presence of misaligned microcrystals have been illustrated. It has been suggested that two-dimensional nucleation, spreading and pilling up of growth layers is mainly responsible for the growth of these crystals and the implications are discussed.     

A comparative study of pure and potassium doped cadmium mercury thiocyanate single crystals grown in silica gel

Pure and potassium doped cadmium mercury thiocyanate single crystals have been obtained from silica gel by the process of diffusion. The X‐ray diffraction studies reveal the crystal lattice of both pure and doped crystals to be tetragonal. The crystalline perfection of the grown crystals were investigated by high resolution X‐ray diffraction analysis and the quality of the crystals are found to be extremely good. Transmission and Fourier transform infrared spectra were recorded for the grown crystals. The TG/DTA analyses show that the crystals are highly thermally stable. The mechanical strength of the crystals were studied by Vickers microhardness test and a study of their second harmonic generation efficiency in comparison with urea has been made by performing Kurtz powder test. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Surface structures of fluorite crystals

Optical studies have been made of the microstructures on the natural {100} and {111} faces of natural fluorite crystals. The protrudance of triangular elevations, growth pyramids, and natural etch pits have been observed on a large number of crystals. It is suggested that fluorite crystals grown by two-dimensional spreading and piling of growth layers parallel to {100} faces. The natural etch pits on {100} and {111} faces suggest that they have been produced as a result of a dissolution process in nature. The natural faces have been etched in the laboratory and it is established that the pits indicate the existence of linear defects in the crystals. The implications are discussed.     

Growth of CaMoO4 and SrMoO4 crystals in silica gel media

Growth kinetics and characterization of calcium and strontium molybdate crystals grown in silica gel have been studied under a variety of parameters. The changes in nucleation characteristics, growth habit, quality of these crystals were carefully observed and are found directly related to pH of the medium. The profound influence of pH on spontaneous crystallization of CaMoO₄ crystals has been carefully investigated; and its crystallization range has been determined. The wide morphological change of SrMoO₄ with respect to pH variation has been studied. The quality of the crystals has been critically examined.     

Effect of Flux on thermoluminescence in Flux-grown BaFCl crystals

BaFCl crystals have been grown using BaF₂ and BaCl₂ by flux technique. Glow curves, optical absorption, and TL emission spectra of x/r — irradiated crystals are studied. The results have been compared with those BaFCl crystals grown from NaF flux so as to study the effects of flux on these properties. It is found that crystals grown from BaF₂ flux are relatively purer. An additional TL glow peak at 460 K, an optical absorption band at 775 nm and TL emission band at 485 nm have been obtained in the presently grown crystals. The additional glow peak, optical absorption band have been attributed to F(¯F) aggregate centers, whereas the 485 nm TL emission band to impurity centers.