A Facilitated Method to Grow Crystals of Cobalt Tellurite Multiferroic Material Co3TeO6

Abstract

Multiferroic material of cobalt tellurite Co3TeO6 exhibits complex magnetic transitions and magnetoelectric coupling properties. Chemical transport reactions to grow single crystals of Co3TeO6 require the expensive PtCl2 as transport agent. Here, a convenient method was developed by utilizing ionic conductor polymorphs of Na2Co2TeO6 as precursor. Single crystals as long as one centimeter were successfully grown by heating a mixture of Na2Co2TeO6 and MoO3 in the sealed alumina crucible. The crystal quality was validated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The probable reaction mechanism was established and the byproducts of Na2MoO4 and Na2TeO4 were observed by the energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The complicated spin lattice was investigated and the unique Archimedean T11-related lattice constructed by Co2, Co3 and Co5 was proposed. Moreover, anisotropic magnetic susceptibilities under various fields and magnetization were also determined. This work may pave the way for the crystal growth of transition metal tellurites by employing relatively polynary complex as precursor.