Temperature-dependent optical phonon behaviour of a spinel Zn2TiO4 single crystal grown by the optical floating zone method in argon atmosphere

Abstract

The spinel Zn₂TiO₄ single crystals were grown via optical floating zone technology in an argon atmosphere for the first time, the as-grown crystals were dark blue and transparent. And the as-grown crystals, free of bubbles and with low angle grain boundary, grow along the a-axis direction. The annealed crystals were colorless and transparent, and the chemical valence of as-grown and annealed single crystals was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectra. The room-temperature polarized Raman spectra of spinel Zn₂TiO₄ crystal were presented and the in situ temperature-dependent Raman spectra of the crystals were also described. DSC results of Zn₂TiO₄ were also discussed.