Flux growth of NdAl3(BO3)4 single crystals from a K2Mo3O10 based system

Abstract

The solubility of NdAl₃(BO₃)₄ crystals in a 69.4 wt% K₂Mo₃O₁₀−18.1 wt% Nd₂O₃−12.5 wt% B₂O₃ multicomponent flux has been investigated. Their growth kinetics was determined in the temperature range of 1050–1000 °C and growth rates were found to be within 0.05–0.14 μm min⁻¹ depending on fluxed melt supercooling (supersaturation). With increased supercooling up to 15 °C, the growth rate rises linearly, but then reaches a temperature plateau and decreases slowly because of spontaneous nucleation in the fluxed melt volume at a comparatively higher supercooling. The growth rate data were analyzed according to a simple diffusion model. NdAl₃(BO₃)₄ single crystals (7 × 10 × 20 mm) have been obtained by high-temperature solution growth on dipped seeds.