Single crystal growth of 67%BiFeO₃-33%BaTiO₃ solution by the floating zone method

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Journal of Crystal Growth

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2017.08.032· OSTI ID:1411047

Rong, Y. ^[1]; Zheng, H. ^[1]; Krogstad, M. J. ^[2]; Mitchell, J. F. ^[1]; Phelan, D. ^[1]

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1. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Lemont, IL (United States)
2. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Lemont, IL (United States); Northern Illinois Univ., DeKalb, IL (United States)

Here, the growth conditions and the resultant grain morphologies and phase purities from floating-zone growth of 67%BiFeO₃-33%BaTiO₃ (BF-33BT) single crystals are reported. We find two formidable challenges for the growth. First, a low-melting point constituent leads to a pre-melt zone in the feed-rod that adversely affects growth stability. Second, constitutional super-cooling (CSC), which was found to lead to dendritic and columnar features in the grain morphology, necessitates slow traveling rates during growth. Both challenges were addressed by modifications to the floating-zone furnace that steepened the temperature gradient at the melt-solid interfaces. Slow growth was also required to counter the effects of CSC. Single crystals with typical dimensions of hundreds of microns have been obtained which possess high quality and are suitable for detailed structural studies.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 1411047
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1495567
• Journal Information: Journal of Crystal Growth, Vol. 481, Issue C; ISSN 0022-0248
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
Ferroelectric materials
Floating zone technique
High resolution X-ray diffraction
Titanium Compounds