Growth and characterization of off-congruent LiNbO3 single crystals grown by the double crucible method

• Published in: Journal of crystal growth Vol. 128; no. 1-4; pp. 909 - 914
• Main Authors: Furukawa, Yasunori, Sato, Masayoshi, Kitamura, Kenji, Nitanda, Fumio
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.03.1993; Elsevier
• Subjects: Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Growth from melts; zone melting and refining; Materials science; Methods of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth; Physics; Crystal growth; Alkali metal Compounds; Stoichiometry; Photorefractive effect; Lithium Metaniobates; X ray topography; Experimental study; X ray diffraction; Single crystal; Inorganic compound; Characterization; Chemical composition; Growth from melt
• ISSN: 0022-0248; 1873-5002
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-0248(07)80068-6

Off-congruent LiNbO3 single crystals were grown from melts with Li-rich compositions (58.0 mol% Li20) by using the double crucible method. The composition of crystals grown from melts with 58 mol% Li20 was found to be 49.8 mol%, close to the stoichiometric composition. The compositional variation throughout the crystal grown by the double crucible method was measured to be within 0.094 mol% by the results of SHG phase-matching temperature measurements. X-ray topography, X-ray rocking curves and extinction ratios indicate that the crystal quality of the off-congruent crystal is lower than that of the congruent crystal. The Li-rich crystals exhibit a strong photorefractive effect as compared with the congruent crystals. The Li-rich crystals grown from melts with 58.0 mol% Li20 were found to be single domain in the as-grown state.