Growth of PZN crystals with improved optical quality using the BSFT technique

Author

Erdei, Sandor ; Schlecht, Richard G. ; Kovács, Laszlo

Author_Institution

Lasergenics Corp., San Jose, CA, USA

Volume

50

Issue

5

fYear

2003

fDate

5/1/2003 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

481

Lastpage

486

Abstract

The bottom seeded fluxothermal (BSFT) high-temperature solution growth technique was used to grow Pb(Zn/sub 1/3/Nb/sub 2/3/)O/sub 3/ (PZN) relaxor crystals. During the process, the seed was held in a cold spot of a Pt crucible having a relatively high temperature gradient. The method can separate the perovskite and pyrochlore phases, decrease the spontaneous nucleation, and increase the thermodynamic driving force resulting in larger crystals than those obtained by conventional slow-cooling techniques. The BSFT technique also can improve the quality of the structural and morphological characteristics, which has been demonstrated by visual observation, x-ray diffraction, Raman, ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS), and IR absorption measurements. These PZN crystals have less distortion in the unit cell, high optical transparency in the 390 nm-5700 nm range, and improved Pb-related stoichiometry.

Keywords

Raman spectra; X-ray diffraction; crystal growth from solution; crystal morphology; infrared spectra; lead compounds; nucleation; phase separation; relaxor ferroelectrics; stoichiometry; transparency; ultraviolet spectra; visible spectra; 390 to 5700 nm; IR absorption; Pb(Zn/sub 1/3/Nb/sub 2/3/)O/sub 3/ relaxor crystals; Pb-related stoichiometry; PbZnO/sub 3/NbO/sub 3/; Pt crucible cold spot; Raman spectra; bottom seeded fluxothermal high-temperature solution growth technique; high temperature gradient; morphological characteristics; optical quality; optical transparency; perovskite phase; phase separation; pyrochlore phase; spontaneous nucleation; structural characteristics; thermodynamic driving force; ultraviolet-visible spectra; unit cell distortion; visual observation; x-ray diffraction; Crystals; Distortion measurement; Electromagnetic wave absorption; Niobium; Optical diffraction; Optical distortion; Temperature; Thermal force; Thermodynamics; X-ray diffraction;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0885-3010

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TUFFC.2003.1201460

Filename

1201460