Growth Conditions of Subgrain-Free LiNbO3 Single Crystals by the Czochralski Method

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Subgrain-free LiNbO3 single crystals were grown by the CZ method. It is generally accepted that thermal fluctuations are a serious drawback in growing a high-quality crystal. However, we found that subgrain-free LiNbO3 crystals could be grown only under regular thermal fluctuation of the melt. In order to analyze the effect of thermal fluctuation, we measured such properties of molten LiNbO3 as the viscosity, density, surface tension, and electrical conductivity. From these measurements, we speculate the existence of clusters made of niobium oxide molecules and lithium oxide molecules below 1280°C. The volume fraction of these clusters decreases as the temperature of molten LiNbO3 increases. A reduction of the density of these clusters prevents LiNbO3 crystals from producing subgrains. This reduction is regarded as one of the necessary conditions required for growing a subgrain-free LiNbO3 single crystal.

This publication has 15 references indexed in Scilit: