Structure of Gd<Subscript>0.95</Subscript>Bi<Subscript>0.05</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>(BO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript> single crystals at 293 and 90 K

The structure of GdFe₃(BO₃)₄ single crystals has been studied by X-ray diffraction at 293 and 90 K. The crystals are grown from a flux in the Bi₂Mo₃O₁₂–B₂O₃–Li₂MoO₄–Gd₂O₃–Fe₂O₃ system. The results of chemical analysis and structural study show that these crystals contain bismuth as an impurity. It is found that bismuth atoms are located at gadolinium sites in the structure. A decrease in the temperature is accompanied by a lowering of the symmetry from sp. gr. R32 (at 293 K) to sp. gr. P3₁21 (at 90 K). The presence of two types of iron chains with different geometries at 90 K promotes a change in the magnetic properties of these crystals with a decrease in the temperature.     

Temperature-induced changes in the single-crystal structure of K9H7(SO4)8 · H2O

Interest in superprotonic crystals of M _m H _n (XO₄)_{(m + n)/2} is associated with the solution to the fundamental problem of modern condensed matter physics: investigations of structural phase transitions and the stabilization of phases with high proton conductivity with the aim of designing new functional materials. The available data suggest that changes in the physical properties in these crystals can occur through different structural mechanisms. To reveal the structural conditionality for anomalies in the physical properties, the crystals of K₉H₇(SO₄)₈ · H₂O were studied by X-ray diffraction in the temperature range of 25–463 K, and the crystal structure of the high-temperature phase was determined at 418 K (sp. gr. Pcan). The results of the study indicate that the occurrence of high conductivity in K₉H₇(SO₄)₈ · H₂O crystals at high temperatures is associated with the diffusion of water of crystallization, the hydrogen-bond network rearrangement, and the motion of K ions. The hydrogen-bond rearrangement and the hindered back diffusion of water to the crystal stabilize the high-temperature phase and ensure its supercooling to low temperatures.     

Crystal and molecular structures of potassium cobalt hydrogen phthalate K2[Co(H2O)6](C8H5O4)4 ⋅ 4H2O and mechanism of Co2+ impurity trapping in KAP crystals

The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of K₂[Co(H₂O)₆](C₈H₅O₄)₄ ? 4H₂O has been carried out. The K₂[Co(H₂O)₆](C₈H₅O₄)₄ ? 4H₂O single crystals are obtained in attempting to grow the KAP crystals with the maximum possible content of Co²⁺ impurity cations. The crystals are isostructural to the earlier-studied similar crystals with Ni(II). The structure is formed by double layers of biphthalate anions and the Co²⁺ and K⁺ cations in between. The Co²⁺ cations are coordinated only by water molecules, whereas the coordination of the K⁺ cations involves both the biphthalate anions and water molecules. A detailed crystal chemical analysis, together with the data on the growth kinetics of KAP crystals in the presence of Co²⁺ and the mass-spectrometric data obtained earlier for the KAP crystals, leads to the conclusion that the Co²⁺ impurity cations should be located in the form of the [Co(H₂O)₆]²⁺ cationic complexes in the interblock layers of the KAP crystals.     

Effect of Carbamide Adsorption on the Growth Kinetics of the NH4Cl Crystals

This work supplements the adsorption model of 2D-isomorphism proposed earlier for the NH₄Cl-CO(NH₂)₂ system and reveals the correspondence between the growth rates of the NH₄Cl crystals in the presence of carbamide and the co-crystallization of carbamide with ammonium chloride. It follows from the kinetic data that the NH₄Cl · CO(NH₂)₂ impurity capture becomes significant when the carbamide concentration in solution is sufficient for almost monolayer adsorption of the impurity on the crystal surface and the onset of multilayer adsorption. The concentration of the guest phase intergrowths falls with the increase in the host crystal growth rate.     

Curved-face growth of NaNO<Subscript>3</Subscript> crystals

Curved-face growth of NaNO₃ crystals under the action of the (NH₄)₂Mo₂O₇ impurity is studied experimentally and possible causes of face bending are analyzed. Selective impurity adsorption on the basal pinacoid results in growth of platelike crystals with spherically bent faces. Growth-rate measurements show that the impurity decelerates pinacoid-face growth by the Bliznakov kink-poisoning mechanism. Face bending can be explained by gradual deceleration of step growth by the impurities accumulated before step fronts. A model of step deceleration is suggested that is based on the assumption of slow impurity adsorption resulting in the instability of a step train. The model allows one to qualitatively interpret the experimental data.     

Preparation and studies of new crystals in the K3H(SO4)2-(NH4)3H(SO4)2-H2O system

To elucidate the effect of isomorphic substitution on the kinetics of phase transitions, single crystals of (K _x (NH₄)_1?x ) _m H _n (SO₄)_{(m + n)/2} · yH₂O solid solutions are grown from the K₃H(SO₄)₂-(NH₄)₃H(SO₄)₂-H₂O system, whose end members are known to undergo superprotonic phase transitions of fundamentally different kinetics. The chemical composition of the single crystals grown is determined by energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis. The thermal and optical behavior of (K,NH₄)₉H₇(SO₄)₈ · H₂O single crystals is studied in the temperature range 295–420 K and the crystal structure at 295 K is determined. A comparison of the results of the studies with data for crystal K₉H₇(SO₄)₈ · H₂O published earlier shows that the substitution of ammonium for potassium atoms lowers the temperature of the structural phase transition by 8 K.     

Growth of filamentary KDP crystals from solution with the addition of Al(NO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> · 9H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

To elucidate the mechanism of nucleation and growth of filamentary crystals on the bipyramid faces of KH₂PO₄ (KDP) crystals from solution with the addition of Al(NO₃)₃ · 9H₂O, the growth rates and transverse dimensions of the crystals were measured at various supersaturations, temperatures, and impurity concentrations. The dependences obtained can be interpreted with due regard for the competition between the intrinsic and impurity particles in the presence of Cabrera-Vermilyea stoppers.     

Crystal growth of mixed‐valence ammonium vanadates

A new method has been developed for the synthesis of mixed‐valence ammonium vanadate crystals. Single crystals of (NH₄)₂V₃O₈ were synthesized on a large scale by hydrothermal reduction of NH₄VO₃ in ethanol‐H₂O solutions in the presence of triblock copolymer Pluronic P123. The crystals are shining thin plates with (001) cleavage planes. Calcination of the (NH₄)₂V₃O₈ crystals at 300°C or above resulted in pure phases of V₂O₅. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Spontaneous polarization of Fe-doped SbNbO4 crystals

The temperature dependence of spontaneous polarization in SbNbO₄: Fe crystals has been studied. The temperatures of the ferroelectric and the structural phase transitions (537 ± 1) K and (876 ± 1) K are determined from the permittivity data. The anomalies in the temperature dependence of Ps provided by the presence of the Fe_Sb and (O _i V _Sb)-type impurity centers are observed in the whole range of ferroelectric ordering. In the SbNbO₄ structure, the macrofragments—two types of mesotetrahedra formed by Sb ions and NbO₆-octahedra-are established, which are responsible for the spontaneous polarization of the crystal.     

X-ray quantitative determination of the phases in a batch for the synthesis of poly- and monocrystal yttriumaluminium garnet

For the synthesis of ceramics and single crystals of yttriumaluminium garnet, a batch consisting of Y₂O₃ and Al₂O₃ is first treated thermally in order to obtain the garnet phase Y₃Al₅O₁₂. It is possible to make a choice of the optimum technological parameters of the batch if the amounts of all oxide phases, present during the synthesis, are well known. A combined X-ray quantitative method is suggested for this purpose. The initial oxides and a garnet phase are determined by the method with external standard. The rest two impurity oxide phases are determined as binary system. The specific diffraction characteristics of the present compounds were taken into account. The amounts of all phases in the batch, treated thermally from 1373 to 2075 K at every 100 K are shown.     

Optical Properties of CuInSe2 Single Crystals Grown by the Vertical Bridgman Technique

The optical absorption near the fundamental edge of n-type CuInSe₂ single crystals was studied for samples having different impurity concentrations. It is found that with increasing impurity concentration the gap energy decreases whilst the tail absorption below the edge and its characteristic energy increase. It is concluded that band-gap narrowing due to high ionized impurity concentrations plays an important role in CuInSe₂ single crystals.     

Gas bubble associated mass transport in Bridgman-Stockbarger melt growth system

Experimental evidence has been obtained showing that gas bubbles may be responsible for melt stirring in Bridgman-Stockbarger growth system which results in Pfann type impurity distribution profiles along the crystal length. The hypothesis of the gas bubble associated mass transfer mechanism is supported by the production of Y₃Al₅O₁₂–Nd³⁺ single crystals under conditions which eliminate or limit gas bubble nucleation in the melts with Nd³⁺ distribution profiles similar to those generally observed in melt growth systems where the mass transport in the melts is limited to diffusion.     

Effect of cationic impurities on solubility and crystal growth processes of ammonium oxalate monohydrate: Role of formation of metal‐oxalate complexes

The effect of different bi‐ and trivalent cationic impurities on the solubility of ammonium oxalate and the composition and distribution of chemical complexes formed in saturated ammonium oxalate aqueous solutions as a function of impurity concentration are investigated. The knowledge of the composition and stability of complexes formed in saturated aqueous solutions is then employed to explain the appearance of dead zones of supersaturation for growth and the difference in the effective segregation coefficient of the impurities. Analysis of the experimental results revealed that: (1) at a constant temperature, the dependence of concentration of complex species formed in saturated solutions on the concentration of different impurities can be described by an equation similar to that of the concentration dependence of density of solutions, (2) the dominant metal‐containing species present in saturated solutions are negatively‐charged, most stable oxalato complexes like Cu(C₂O₄)₂²⁻, Mn(C₂O₄)₃⁴⁻, Zn(C₂O₄)₃⁴⁻, Cr(C₂O₄)₃³⁻ and Fe(C₂O₄)₃³⁻, (3) in the investigated range of impurity concentration, the solubility of ammonium oxalates increases linearly with the concentration of all impurities and the increase is associated with the stability of dominant complexes, (4) appearance of dead supersaturation zones in the presence of impurities is associated with instantaneous adsorption of all growth sites by dominant oxalato complexes in relatively short adsorption time, and (5) the segregation coefficient of an impurity cation M of charge z + increases with a decrease in the solubility product constant K_sp for the hydrolysis products of reactions of the type: M^{z +} ↔ M₁^{(z −1)+} + H⁺ (where the cation M has z + charge, and H⁺ is hydrogen ion). (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Growth of MgF2 optical crystals and their ionic conductivity in the as-grown state and after partial pyrohydrolysis

MgF₂ single crystals have been grown from melt by the Bridgman technique in a fluorinating atmosphere. To control the presence of oxygen impurity, it was first suggested to measure the ionic conductivity in MgF₂ crystals by impedance spectroscopy. The characteristics of ionic conductivity of “as grown” (i.e., without thermal treatment) crystals and crystals obtained by commercial vacuum technology practically coincide: the volume conductivity σ_v = 1.4 × 10^?7 S/cm at 773 K and the ion-transport activation energy E _a = 1.40 ± 0.05 eV. Annealing MgF₂ crystals during electrophysical studies upon heating from 293 to 823 K in vacuum (residual pressure ～1 Pa) for 4 h led to their partial pyrohydrolisis. The influence of this thermal treatment of MgF₂ crystals on their optical transmission is studied in the wavelength range of 115–300 nm.     

Flux growth and low temperature dielectric relaxation in piezoelectric Pb[(Zn1/3Nb2/3)0.91Ti0.09]O3 single crystals

Single crystals of Pb[(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)_0.91Ti_0.09]O₃ (PZNT 91/9) have been grown by flux method after modifications in temperature profile, flux ratio and addition of excess ZnO/B₂O₃ which resulted in enhanced perovskite yield (more than 95%). Only a few crystals showed the presence of pyrochlore phase/variation in composition. A comparative characterization of these crystals were carried out in respect of piezoelectric charge coefficient d₃₃, dielectric constant, ac conductivity and hysteresis loop after cutting and poling the crystals along [001] direction. The total activation energy for conduction has been found to increase with Ti‐content in the sample. The effect of ZnO on growth behavior has been analyzed. A detailed analysis of PZNT (91:9) has been carried out at low temperature in respect of the various thermodynamic parameters related to the dielectric relaxation mechanism, like optical dielectric constant, static dielectric constant, free energy of activation for dipole relaxation, enthalpy of activation and relaxation time, have been calculated in the vicinity of transition temperature in the lower temperature region. The activation energy for relaxation at ‐10 and ‐49 °C have been found to be 0.09 and 0.02 eV respectively. The results were analyzed and a detailed dielectric analysis and low temperature relaxation behavior of PZNT crystals were interpreted. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of a Li8FeSm22O38 single crystal

Li₈FeSm₂₂O₃₈ single crystals have been grown by spontaneous flux crystallization, and their structure has been identified by X-ray diffraction analysis as follows: cubic crystals, a = 11.9078(5) Å, sp.gr. $Im\bar 3m$ , Z = 2. Fe atoms occupy two mixed positions. Magnetic ions have different ligand environments: a regular octahedron (Sm/Fe)O₆, a three-cap trigonal prism SmO₉, and a square antiprism SmO₈. The rather low Neel temperature (～3 K) can be explained by the considerable variation in the angles and lengths of exchange couplings between magnetic ions.     

Crystal structures of two new low-symmetry calcium-deficient analogs of eudialyte

The crystal structures of two new low-symmetry (sp. gr. R3) representatives of the eudialyte group from Mont Saint-Hilaire (Quebec, Canada) and the Lovozero massif (Kola Peninsula, Russia) were studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and refined to R = 0.068 and 0.054 using 2899 reflections with F > 5σ(F) and 2927 reflections with F > 3σ(F), respectively. The idealized formulas of these representatives are Na₁₃(Ca₃Mn₃)Zr₃(Fe, Mn)₃(□)(Si)[Si₃O₉]₂[Si₉O₂₇]₂(O, OH, Cl)₃ · 2H₂O and Na₁₅(Ca₃Mn₃)Zr₃(Fe, Zr)₃(Si)(Si) · [Si₃O₉]₂[Si₉O₂₇]₂O₂(OH, F, Cl)₂ · 2H₂O. Both minerals are analogs of oneillite and are characterized by a low Ca content. The distinguishing features of the mineral from Quebec are that the M(4) site is essentially vacant (>50%) and Ca atoms occupy one independent site in the six-membered ring, whereas another site is occupied by Mn along with a small impurity of Na. In the mineral from the Lovozero massif, both the M(3) and M(4) sites are occupied predominantly by silicon, while Ca atoms are distributed between both octahedral sites of the six-membered ring, one of these sites being occupied predominantly by Mn.     

Flux crystallization of Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 single crystals by the Czochralski method

Single crystals of lead magnesium niobate have been grown by flux crystallization using a modified Czochralski method. The crystals grown are free of pyrochlore impurity and have sizes of (15–28) × (20–30) × 20 mm³. The region of congruent melting of solution is determined. The PbO-B₂O₃ and PbO-B₂O₃-KBO₂ systems are chosen to be solvents.     

Effect of Supersaturation and Temperature on the Growth Morphology of Ammonium Oxalate Monohydrate Crystals Obtained from Aqueous Solutions

The experimental results of a study of the effect of supersaturation and temperature on the growth morphology of ammonium oxalate monohydrate [(NH₄)₂C₂O₄H₂O; AO] single crystals obtained from aqueous solutions at 30 and 40 °C and supersaturation up to 9% are presented. The observations are analysed in terms of theoretical morphology, growth models and attachment energy for growth units in steps of growing faces.     

Enhancement of thermoelectric efficiency in vapor deposited Sb2Te3 and Sb1.8In0.2Te3 crystals

Pure and indium doped antimony telluride (Sb₂Te₃) crystals find applications in high performance room temperature thermoelectric devices. Owing to the meagre physical properties exhibited on the cleavage faces of melt grown samples, an attempt was made to explore the thermoelectric parameters of p‐type crystals grown by the physical vapor deposition (PVD) method. The crystal structure of the grown platelets (9 mm× 8 mm× 2 mm) was identified as rhombohedral by x‐ray powder diffraction method. The energy dispersive analysis confirmed the elemental composition of the crystals. The electron microscopic and scanning probe image studies revealed that the crystals were grown by layer growth mechanism with low surface roughness. At room temperature (300 K), the values of Seebeck coefficient S (⊥ c) and power factor were observed to be higher for Sb_1.8In_0.2Te₃ crystals (155 μVK⁻¹, 2.669 × 10⁻³ W/mK²) than those of pure ones. Upon doping, the thermal conductivity κ (⊥ c) was decreased by 37.14% and thus thermoelectric efficiency was improved. The increased figure of merit, Z = 1.23 × 10⁻³ K⁻¹ for vapour grown Sb_1.8In_0.2Te₃ platelets indicates that it could be used as a potential thermoelectric candidate.