Growth of Na modified potassium lithium niobate crystal by the Czochralski method

Transparent Na modified potassium lithium niobate (Na_0.23K_2.60Li_1.82Nb_5.35O_15.70; NKLN) crystal was successively grown by the Czochralski method using RF induction heating from melt composition Na₂O:K₂O : Li₂O:Nb₂O₅=2:30:25:43 mol%. NKLN crystal showed a tetragonal tungsten bronze structure with lattice constants a=12.5446±0.0010 Å and c=4.0129±0.0005 Å at room temperature. The dielectric constant along the c-axis ε₃₃ showed a sharp maximum around 480 °C. Optical transmission edge was 370 nm and optical transmission spectra showed no absorption at wavelengths ranging from 380 to 800 nm. The structural and optical properties of NKLN were similar to those of the near stoichiometric KLN crystals. We believe that the growth of NKLN by the Czochralski method has an advantage for a large size and high-quality crystal.