Growth and some properties of cerium sulphate enneahydrate single crystals

Colorless single crystals of cerium sulphate enneahydrate were grown from aqueous solutions under carefully controlled conditions of temperature and supersaturation. Polarized Raman spectra and vibrational assignments of oriented single crystals are reported. Several physical properties (density, refractive indices, dielectric constants, coefficient of linear expansion, specific heat, microhardness) are also listed.     

Growth and some properties of Ce3+-doped LiYbF4 single crystals

LiYbF₄ single crystals, nominally pure and doped with Ce³⁺ ions, of optical quality and up to 60 mm in diameter, have been grown by vertical directed crystallization. The optical and mechanical properties of the crystals have been studied. The refractive index dispersion for LiYbF₄ in the range of 0.4–0.6 μm can be described by the dependence n ²(λ) − 1 = Aλ²/(λ² − λ ₀²), where A = 1.14 and 1.21 and λ₀ = 0.074 and 0.080 μm for n _o and n _e, respectively. The sample microhardness exceeds 2.6 GPa. LiYbF₄ crystals are transparent in the range of 0.17–9 μm and have an absorption band in the range of 0.9–1.2 μm. It is shown that LiYbF₄ crystals doped with Ce³⁺ ions can be used as optical cut-off UV filters in the operating range λ = 0.25−0.28 μm.     

Growth and properties of single crystals of FeTi

A Single crystal of FeTi with a diameter of ca 34 mm and a length of ca 48 mm has been grown from a quasi-stoichiometric melt with an excess of 1% titanium employing the Bridgman technique. Experiments with the Czochralski technique were not successful. The only crucible material sufficiently resistent against reaction with the melt is electrographite. Elastic and thermoelastic constants were determined by means of ultrasonic methods. FeTi and α iron possess a similar bulk compressibility, thermal expansion, and thermoelastic constants. The longitudinal elastic resistance c₁₁ of FeTi supersedes that of α iron by an amount of ca 30%.     

Preparation and some properties of synthetic proustite single crystals

Conditions for the preparation of proustite single crystals are reported. For selecting these conditions temperature gradients in the crystallisation zone and in the melt, the rate of moving of the crystallisation front, the radial gradient, tube geometry, stabilisation of temperature, mechanisms of zone travelling, partial pressures were changed. – Differential-thermal, X-ray, and spectral-chemical analysis were applied to initial substances and final crystal bodies. To decrease the influence of spontaneous crystallisation an optimal temperature gradient was applied approaching maximum undercooling at the liquid-solid interface. – Optically transparent proustite crystals resulted. In the range from 1 to 12 μm they show 80% transparency. Microhardness was measured along the growth direction which deviated from the c-axis about 25°.     

Preparation and some properties of thallium orthothioarsenate single crystals

Growing of large (Ø 25–30 mm, L = 50–60 mm) optically homogenous single crystals of Tl₃AsS₄ using the Bridgman-Stockbarger method is described. Tl₃AsS₄ is orthorhombic (Pnma), a = 8.85 ± 0.03, b = 10.86 ± 0.03, c = 9.18 ± 0.03 Å; z = 4; ϱ_x = 6.15 g · cm⁻³; ϱ_p = 6.15 ± 0,03 g · cm⁻³, T_m = 424 ± 3°C, Moh's hardness = 3, microhardness and ultrasonics velocity along x, y, z are 65–85 kg · mm⁻² and 2.16 – 2.37 · 10⁵ cm · sec⁻¹, respectively. The crystals possess perfect cleavage plane (010). Their transparency range is 0.6–12 microns. – Unsuccessful attempts to obtain Tl₃AsS₄ and its alloys in the vitreous state were taken. The possibilities of glass formation and boundaries of the vitreous region in the system Tl–As–S based on the characteristic features of the melt forming structural units are analyzed.     

Linear and nonlinear optical properties of tris thiourea zinc sulphate single crystals

Optical absorption of tris thiourea zinc sulphate (ZTS) single crystals has been measured and its direct band gap was found to be 3.6 eV. Theoretical calculations were carried out to determine the linear optical constants such as extinction coefficient and refractive index. Further the optical nonlinearties of ZTS have been investigated by Z‐scan technique with He‐Ne laser at 632.8 nm. The nonlinear refractive index, absorption coefficient and third order susceptibility is found to be in the order of –5.36 ± 0.26 × 10^–12 cm²/W, 4.24 ± 0.21 × 10^–4 cm/W, 3.5 ± 0.17 × 10^–4 esu respectively. Thus optical characterization of ZTS reveals the various industrial application oriented properties of the material. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Growth and properties of ferroelectric potassium ferrocyanide trihydrate single crystals

Single crystals of potassium ferrocyanide trihydrate, K₄[Fe(CN)₆·3H₂O (KFCT), a ferroelectric material with Curie temperature 251K were grown in silica gel at room temperature for the first time by the solubility reduction method. Resorcinol and ethyl alcohol were used for the purpose of gel setting and supernatant liquid respectively. Optical and mechanical properties were studied for the grown crystal. The structure of the grown crystal was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and FT Raman spectral analysis of the crystalline samples reveal that the crystalline sample consist consists of all functional groups. Thermal analysis of the crystalline sample was performed by TGA and DTA methods. The Vicker's micro hardness value was measured for KFCT crystals. The square etch pits with a hopper‐like structure is an indicative of 2D nucleation mechanism. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Growth,structure, and some transport properties of topological insulators based on bismuth chalcogenide single crystals

Single crystals of topological insulators—bismuth chalcogenides Bi₂Te₃, Bi_{2 ? x} Sn _x Te₃, Bi₂Se₃, and Bi_{2 ? x} Cu _x Se₃ with different charge-carrier densities—are grown by the modified Bridgman method. Their composition and structure are investigated and temperature dependences of the electric resistance and magnetic field dependences of the Hall voltage are obtained.     

Growth of lanthanum heptamolybdate crystals by gel technique

The growth of single crystals of lanthanum heptamolybdate is achieved by allowing controlled diffusion of La ions through silica gel using the system La(NO₃)₃ MoO₃ NH₄OH HNO₃–Na₂SiO₃. The reaction mechanism leading to the growth is reported. Mechanism of crystallization of La heptamolybdate is discussed. Formation of Liesegang rings consisting of La heptamolybdate crystals in the system is reported. It is observed that concentration programming and seeded growth enhances the size of crystals. The crystals grown in the system are single crystal platelets exhibiting squarish or octagonal facets. Some crystals exhibit a spherulitic morphology.     

The defect structure of ammonium sulphate single crystals

The defect structure of larger ammonium sulphate crystals, grown from aqueous solutions, has been studied by means of X-ray diffraction topography after Lang's method. Several types of dislocations were identified. Moreover it was found that no relationship exists between growth rate and dislocation density, which implies that crystal growth proceeds via two-dimensional nucleation. No difference was found in the defect structure of crystals grown from pure water solutions and from aqueous solutions with 10 – 20% glycerine as additive: In both cases neither growth bands nor sector boundaries were found. On the other hand, crystals grown in aqueous solutions contaminated with Mn²⁺ and Fe³⁺ revealed growth bands and for Fe³⁺ a mosaic-like structure.     

Domain structure investigations in triglycine sulphate single crystals

The domain structure of pure and irradiated TGS crystals was investigated by electron microscope decoration technique. Changes in the decoration pictures due to irradiation are shown and the way in which small lenticular domains disappear in the spontaneous ageing process is presented. Moreover, the thickness of the domain wall was assessed to be for good TGS crystals, grown in the paraelectric phase, of about 120 Å.     

Doping of KDP single crystals with cerium: Growth and optical properties

The features of doping of KDP crystals with cerium ions and organocerium complexes with alizarin complexon and arsenazo III have been investigated. It is established that “direct” doping by introducing cerium salts into the initial solution cannot be implemented. The effect of organometallic complexes of cerium on the crystal growth has been studied. Organocerium complexes predominantly enter the prismatic or pyramidal growth sectors. It is shown that the complex arsenazo III + Ce blocks the growth of the prismatic sector. Cerium-doped KDP crystals exhibit a photoluminescence band peaking at the wavelength λ_max= 350 nm.     

Triglycine sulphate single crystals growing doped with copper and cobalt ions and study of their dielectric properties

Growing conditions for TGS single crystals doped with Cu or Co ions are given in a table. ε and tg δ values in growth pyramids depend on crystal growing temperature and the incorporated impurity: Cu²⁺ ions increase the temperature hysteresis of the dielectric permeabilty. Incorporation of Cu²⁺ and Co²⁺ ions considerably decreases the difference in the values ε at 25°C in crystals grown at different temperature.     

Growth and some properties of TeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> single crystals with a large diameter

Large-diameter single crystals of TeO₂ are grown by the Czochralski method in specially designed setups with automatic monitoring of the crystal growth. The degree of perfection of the grown crystals is examined using selective etching and X-ray topography (the Shultz method). The temperature dependence of the microhardness of TeO₂ single crystals is investigated for different crystallographic planes, namely, (001), (100), and (110).     

Growth of GaSe and GaS single crystals

The paper describes principal manipulations to prepare single crystals of GaSe and GaS. A new simple method of synthesis with single‐zone heating furnace is proposed. Growth of crystals was performed by modified Bridgman method with the use of rotating heat field. Raman and optical depth spectra show high structural and optical quality of obtained crystals. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Growth and morphology of p-terphenyl single crystals

The results of a preliminary investigation of the growth and morphology of p-terphenyl crystals grown by sublimation and by solvent evaporation methods are reported. It was observed that lozenge–shaped (001) crystal plates are obtained from xylene and benzene solution while dendritic crystals by sublimation. Crystallographic orientation of the plates and microscopic observations of as-grown crystal surfaces are also described.     

Growth and characterization of glycine lithium sulphate single crystal

Single crystal of glycine lithium sulphate, a nonlinear optical material, was grown from aqua solution by temperature reduction method. The solubility and metastable zonewidth of glycine lithium sulphate were estimated using aqueous solution. The cell parameters of the grown crystal were estimated by single crystal X‐ ray diffraction analysis. The presence of functional groups was identified from FTIR spectrum. Thermal analysis was performed to study the thermal stability of the grown crystal. The transmission and absorption spectra of this crystal show that the lower cut off wavelength lies at 330 nm. Powder Second Harmonic Generation efficiency of the grown crystal measured by Kurtz technique is 0.75 times that of potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate. Vickers microhardness study was carried out on the well developed (011) face of the grown crystal. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)