Analysis of yttrium aluminium borate crystals by solution-based methods: inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Comparative analysis of yttrium aluminium borate (YAB) /YAl3(BO3)4/ optical single crystals was performed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) methods for Cr, Dy, Er, Yb, Y, Al, B and Mo. The dopant element, Ce, could be determined only by the ICP-AES method at the required concentration level. The powdered crystal samples were fused with lithium metaborate (LiBO2) at 950 °C in a platinum crucible and then dissolved in 6 mol l−1 HCl. Although this fusion-dissolution procedure proved to be simple and effective, the quantitative determination of B—as the matrix element in samples—was handicapped by the B content of the fusing reagent. For the FAAS method, with the use of nitrous oxide–acetylene flame, cesium chloride ionization buffer and lanthanum chloride releasing agent [0.1+0.2% (m/v), respectively] were applied. These agents enhanced the atomic absorption signals of Cr, Dy, Er, Mo, Yb and Y, whereas no change of sensitivity was resulted in for Al and B. A fairly good agreement was found between the results of the two alternative spectrochemical methods. The predicted stoichiometry of the crystals was also well approximated indicating the reliability of the crystal growth technology applied.