Atomic structure of (Sr0.50Ba0.50)Nb2O6 single crystals in the series of (SrxBa1 ? x)Nb2O6 compounds

Czochralski grown (Sr_0.50Ba_0.50)Nb₂O₆ single crystals have been studied by the method of precision X-ray diffraction analysis. The structural characteristics of (Sr_xBa_{1 − x} )Nb₂O₆ compounds with x = 0.33, 0.50, 0.61, and 0.75 were analyzed. The distributions of the Sr and Ba atoms over the crystallographic positions are considered depending on their concentration. The establishment of the mechanisms of isomorphous replacements in these solid solutions allows the variation, within certain limits, of crystal properties by changing the Ba/Sr ratio. __________ Translated from Kristallografiya, Vol. 47, No. 2, 2002, pp. 249–252. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2002 by Chernaya, Volk, Verin, Ivleva, Simonov.     

X-ray diffraction study of cerium-and thulium-doped (Sr,Ba)Nb2 O6 single crystals

The structural models of cerium-and thulium-doped (Sr_0.61Ba_0.39)Nb₂O₆ solid solutions were established and refined on the basis of single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The dopants were located, and their concentrations in the specimens were refined. The effect of the Sr/Ba ratio and doping with rare earth elements on the structural characteristics of (Sr_xBa_1-x )Nb₂O₆ crystals was analyzed.     

Optical characterization and crystal structure of the novel bronzetype CaxBa1‐xNb2O6 (x = 0.28; CBN‐28)

Calcium barium niobate (CBN), also like strontium barium niobate (SBN), belongs to the materials family of partially filled tetragonal tungsten bronzes, which show relaxor‐type ferroelectric phase transitions and large electro‐optic effects. For the first time, it was possible to grow large single crystals of Ca_0.25Ba_0.75Nb₂O₆ (CBN‐25) and CBN‐28 by using different growing techniques. The successful single crystal growth allowed to investigate several physical properties of the novel phase. Herein, we report on measurements of differential thermal analysis (DTA), wavelength dispersion of the refractive indices, temperature dependence of the birefringence and light absorption. Additionally, results of the single crystal X‐ray structure analysis are presented.     

Structural conditionality for the quadratic nonlinear susceptibility of Sr1−x Ba x Nb2O6 crystals

The intensity of the second harmonic generated in powdered samples of the compositions Sr_0.75Ba_0.25Nb₂O₆, Sr_0.61Ba_0.39Nb₂O₆, and Sr_0.50Ba_0.50Nb₂O₆ under irradiation by a pulsed-periodic YAG: Nd laser is measured. The effective values of the quadratic nonlinear susceptibility of these materials with respect to the reference sample of potassium dihydrophosphate crystals are estimated. The results obtained are compared with the precise parameters of the atomic structure of the single crystals with the corresponding compositions. It is established that the dominant contribution to the nonlinear optical susceptibility of the single crystals under investigation comes from the chains aligned parallel to the c axis of the crystal and composed of Nb octahedra with regularly alternating increased and decreased Nb-O interatomic distances. The occurrence of such a sequence in the crystal structure suggests an alternation of stronger and weaker chemical bonds in the chains ?O=Nb?O=Nb?O=. These bonds are characterized by different charge electron densities, a phenomenon confirmed by the X-ray diffraction analysis, which indicates not only a difference in the Nb-O bond lengths but also an anharmonicity in the thermal vibrations of the niobium atoms. The revealed anharmonicity is associated with the difference between the chemical bonds of the niobium atoms with the oxygen atoms located in trans positions in the octahedra.     

Theoretical and experimental study on the conoscopic interference in uniaxial crystal (Ca0.28Ba0.72)x(Sr0.60Ba0.40)1‐xNb2O6

Conoscopic interference of polarized light for the white‐light and LPS‐7,5Volts direct current semiconductor laser (Green light) with wavelength at 532 nm in (Ca_0.28Ba_0.72)_x(Sr_0.60Ba_0.40)_1‐xNb₂O₆ crystals were observed with the beams transmitting along optical‐axes and deflection optical‐axes from 0 to 140°. Endo‐exo variation from looseness to tightness of conoscopic interference patterns were analyzed in theory. A hyperbolic black cross of interference patterns were observed as well as its formation process was proposed in this paper. Also, the inferences of the birefringence with different Ca²⁺‐doped were obtained in this investigation. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Growth and characterization of mixed Sr: Ca tartrates

Single crystals of Sr_1−xCa_xC₄H₄O₆ · 4 H₂O of different compositions and forms were grown by controlled diffusion of ions through suitable silica gels and characterized. Pycnometer density, lattice parameter, dislocation density, dissolution, cleavage, etc. are some of the interesting features which distinguish mixed crystals from the pure ones.     

Optical properties of the germanate melilites Sr2MgGe2O7, Sr2ZnGe2O7 and Ba2ZnGe2O7

Refractive indices and their dispersion in the wavelength range from 365 nm to 2325 nm and transmission ranges of the tetragonal melilite‐type germanates Sr₂MgGe₂O₇, Sr₂ZnGe₂O₇ and Ba₂ZnGe₂O₇ were determined. The uniaxial positive crystals Sr₂MgGe₂O₇ and Ba₂ZnGe₂O₇ both offer the possibility for phase matched second harmonic generation, a detailed analysis of phase matching conditions is given. The refractive indices of Sr₂ZnGe₂O₇ show an isoindex (isotropic) point at 467 nm. The investigation was performed on Czochralski grown large single crystals. The crystal structure of all three germanates were determined by means of X ‐ray diffraction. The results corroborate unmodulated melilite‐type structures at room temperature. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Some structural considerations on the perovskite‐type A1‐ySryCo1‐xFexO3‐δ solid solution series

Solid solution series of La_1‐ySr_yCo_1‐xFe_xO_3‐δ were extensively studied in the past as cathode materials for solid oxide fuel cells. However, the crystal structure behavior of La_1‐ySr_yCo_1‐xFe_xO_3‐δ solid solution series when La‐ions are replaced with another rare‐earth ion or metallic alkaline earth metal is at present not fully understood. Here we report X‐ray powder diffraction measurements performed on samples of the Sm_0.8Sr_0.2Co_1‐xFe_xO_3‐δ solid solution series. This study demonstrates that the average A‐cation radius, as well as the Fe content (x), affects the structural modification of the A_1‐ySr_yCo_1‐xFe_xO_3+δ solid solution series significantly. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Optical defects in barium—strontium niobate single crystals

The distributions of edge dislocations and residual mechanical stresses in Ba_xSr_1-xNb₂O₆ (BSN) crystals are investigated and the explanation of the nature of the “growth column” is proposed. The “growth column” is a defect zone going through all of the crystal and usually repeating in its cross-section the contour of the seed crystal. The “growth column” boundary is the closed contour with extremely high edge dislocation density. These dislocations are connected with thermal stresses due to seed-melt contact or abrupt crystal widening. Under proper crystal seeding and widening conditions one can obtain the BSN crystals with dislocation densities less than 10 cm⁻² and without the “growth column”. The method of chemico-mechanical polishing of BSN crystals not forming a defect layer on the surface of the crystals have been developed. The high temperature diffusion annealing is shown to eliminate the growth striae in BSN crystals.     

Das Kristallwachstum von BaAl2Si2O8

In the system BaO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ a metastable solid solution Ba_1−0,5xAl_2−xSi_2+xO₈ next two stable and one metastable modification of composition BaAl₂Si₂O₈ was observed. The discrete differences in nucleation behaviour and anisotropy of crystal growth of these crystalline phases favoury the formation of the solid solution. The production of defined crystals of metastable solid solution or of the needle-shaped stable low temperature modification is of relevance for the thermal stability of ceramics and glass ceramics.     

Ba2.2Ca0.8Mg4F14, a new “solid solution stabilized” matrix for an intense blue phosphor

Barium calcium magnesium fluoride (Ba₂(Ba_xCa_1‐x)Mg₄F₁₄, x=0.19‐0.26) has been synthesized at 850 °C from precursors prepared by the solution precipitation method. Single crystals with composition of Ba_2.200(2)Ca_0.800(2)Mg₄F₁₄were obtained after prolonged heating. Lattice parameters from single crystal data are a = 12.4203(8) and c = 7.4365(5) Å [tetragonal, space group P4₂/mnm (No. 136)]. They increase with increasing barium concentration within a given stability window. The structure is built of a network of MgF₆ octahedra forming a pyrochlore related channel system and isolated fluorine ions. Within the channels, heavy alkaline earth ions are located. The wide channel is filled with off‐center positioned barium ions. The channel with a narrow cross section hosts both ions, Ca²⁺and Ba²⁺. The structure is isotypic with Pb₃Nb₄O₁₂F₂ but has a different coordination around Ba/Ca and Pb, respectively. Doped with ∼1% Eu(II), the compound shows intense blue luminescence under UV activation. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Synthesis and crystal growth of sillenite phases in the Bi2O3 ‐ TiO2 ‐ Nb2O5 system

The synthesis of Bi₂O₃‐Nb₂O₅ sillenite phase (BNbO) and the solubility of this phase with Bi₁₂TiO₂₀ was investigated by solid‐state reaction synthesis and niobium doped Bi₁₂TiO₂₀ (BTO:Nb) crystals were grown by the Top Seeded Solution Growth (TSSG) technique. The structures of polycrystalline compounds were checked by X‐ray powder diffraction method at room temperature. The correct composition of the sillenite phase stabilized with niobium was determined as Bi₁₂[Nb_0.17Bi_0.83]O_19.7 (BNbO) with unit cell parameter a = 10.261(2) Å. The system BTO‐BNbO is poorly soluble, but niobium doped BTO crystals were grown from the liquid composition 10Bi₂O₃ : xTiO₂ : (1‐x)/2 Nb₂O₅, with x = 0.95 and 0.90. A niobium concentration limit in the liquid phase is established in order to grow BTO:Nb with good crystalline quality. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Self‐diffraction and edge enhanced effect in the photorefractive crystal (Ca0.28Ba0.72)0.75(Sr0.60Ba0.40)0.25Nb2O6

The optical properties based on Self‐diffraction phenomena and the edge enhanced of optical correlation pattern effect with a Ca²⁺‐doped (Ca_0.28Ba_0.72)_0.75(Sr_0.60Ba_0.40)_0.25Nb₂O₆ (CSBN₇₅) crystals and a He‐Ne laser at 632.8 nm are studied in this paper. The experimental results show that its practical application as photorefractive material is worth further investigation. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Dielectric characteristics of Ce3+ doped Sr0.61Ba0.39Nb2O6 with Cole‐Cole plots technique

In this paper, we have investigated two‐relaxator mechanism and dielectric characteristics of Ce³⁺ doped Sr_0.61Ba_0.39Nb₂O₆ with dielectric spectroscopy measurements. The crystal undergoes a ferroelectric phase transition at 340 K. The temperature dependence of the real and imaginer part of the complex dielectric susceptibility in vicinity of ferroelectric‐paraelectric phase transition has been studied in the frequency region 0.1 kHz–10 MHz. The measurements of the dielectric constant of the real and imaginer parts show strongly frequency dependence. The investigations of the dielectric constant revealed a non‐Debye type dielectric relaxation for Ce⁺³ doped SBN61 by using Cole‐Cole plots. It reveals the coexistence of the two dielectric relaxators in vicinity of the phase transition. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Growth of Ba2Re(Y,Pr)Ru1‐xCuxO single crystals in a high temperature solution drop using an infrared imaging system

Infrared imaging furnace was used to grow single crystals of Ba₂YRu_1‐xCu_xO₆ and Ba₂PrRu_1‐xCu_xO₆ using high temperature solutions of PbO‐PbF₂ in the form of a bubble attached to the feed rods. Several small crystals were found deposited on the cooler portions of the sintered rod as well as in the drop like portion at the end of the rod. These crystals were collected and the morphology, microstructure and magnetic properties were studied. The details of these investigations are presented. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Preparation and investigation of (CuInSe2)x(2ZnSe)1‐x and (CuInTe2)x(2ZnTe)1‐x solid solution crystals

The (CuInSe₂)_x(2ZnSe)_1‐x and (CuInTe₂)_x(2ZnTe)_1‐x solid solution crystals prepared by Bridgman method and chemical vapor transport have been studied. The nature of the crystalline phases, the local structure homogeneity and composition of these materials have been investigated by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) methods. The analysis revealed the presence of chalcopyrite‐sphalerite phase transition between 0.6 ≤ X ≤ 0.7. Lattice constants, value of σ position parameter and bond length between atoms were also calculated. It was found that the lattice parameters exhibit a linear dependence versus composition. The transmission spectra of solid solution crystals in the region of the main absorption edge were studied. It was established that the optical band gap of these materials changes non‐linearly with the X composition. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Growth and study of single crystals of Pb1 − x BaxSc0.5Nb0.5O3 solid solutions

Crystals of Pb_{1 ? x} Ba_xSc_0.5Nb_0.5O₃ solid solutions with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.58 have been grown by the method of mass crystallization from flux. It is established that, unlike the concentration dependence of the corresponding ceramic, the concentration dependence of the temperature T _m (the maximum dielectric constant ε in crystals) does not attain saturation. Cooling of crystals with x ≤ 0.04 resulted in a spontaneous transition from the relaxor to the macrodomain ferroelectric state. In crystals with a higher barium content, the relaxor state is “locked in.”     

Single crystals of barium substituted rare-earth orthomanganites

The single crystals from the series of Re_1-xBa_xMnO₃ solid solutions (Re = Pr, Nd) were prepared by the flux growth from the melt containing 0.41 BaO — 0.18 BaF₂ — 0.41 B₂O₃. as the flux constituents. The conditions of the growth, in particular the liquidus curves of the relevant pseudobinary systems, were determined by the high-temperature microscope technique. The prepared crystals were characterized by X-ray and chemical analysis.     

Twin Structure of (La,Nd)GaO3 Solid Solutions

For La_1‐xNd_xGaO₃ crystals the La‐Nd substitution leads to decrease of spontaneous strains and for composition with x≈0.32 the six possible twin states of orthorhombic phase (m3mFmmm) may be degenerated in three twin states inhered in m3mF4/mmm species when a distorted perovskite pseudocell becomes tetragonal. The {110} and {112} reflection twins and axial twins with compositional planes close to (211) and (21‐1) (S‐walls) were identified in La_1‐xNd_xGaO₃ (x=0.07, 0.12, 0.20) solid solutions crystals. All observed twins are typical for crystals with GdFeO₃ type perovskite‐like structure. It has been shown that for x≤0.2 and x≥0.5 orientations of S‐walls weakly depend on La/Nd ratio, whereas in the range of 0.2<x<0.5 they depend strongly on the solid solution composition. The tilt angle between two twin states across twin boundary in La_1‐xNd_xGaO₃ (x<0.6) solid solutions is smaller than that between two twins in pure LaGaO₃ or NdGaO₃.     

Effective electro‐optic coefficient of (1–x)Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3–xPbTiO3 single crystals

Refractive indices and effective electro‐optic coefficient γ_c of (1–x)Pb(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃–xPbTiO₃ (PZN‐xPT, x = 0.05, 0.09 and 0.12) single crystals were measured at 532 nm wavelength. Orientation and temperature dependences of the electro‐optic coefficient were investigated. Large electro‐optic coefficient (γ_c = 470 pm/V) was observed in [001]‐poled PZN‐0.09PT crystal. More importantly, γ_c of tetragonal PZN‐0.12PT is almost unchanged in a temperature range −20 ∼ 80 °C. The γ_c of PZN‐xPT single crystals are much higher than that of widely used electro‐optic crystal LiNbO₃ (γ_c = 20 pm/V). These results show that PZN‐xPT single crystals are very promising materials for electro‐optic modulators in optical communications.