Growth of YCOB single crystals by flux technique and their characterization

Abstract

Nonlinear optical single crystals of YCOB with good optical quality were grown by the flux technique for the first time. Polycrystalline YCOB samples were synthesized by solid state reaction method. The thermal analysis of the sample was performed with lithium carbonate flux in different weight proportions and the growth temperature was optimised. Single crystals of YCOB with dimensions 3 x 3 x 5 mm 3 were obtained by the method of 'slow-cooling'. The grown crystals were characterized by XRD, UV-VIS-NIR, EDAX, FTIR and etching studies. The powder XRD pattern revealed the formation of YCOB compound. The lattice parameters were identified through single crystal XRD studies. The UV-VIS-NIR results showed that the crystal has a sharp cutoff at 220 nm and is nearly 55% transparent over a wide wavelength range enabling applications in the UV region. The EDAX measurement revealed the 'flux-free' crystal formation. The presence of the functional groups belonging to the YCOB crystals was identified by the FTIR results. 'Hillock-like' patterns are observed in the etching studies. The primary emphasis in this study is laid to describe 'flux technique' as an alternative method to grow YCOB crystals. The results are presented and discussed.

Growth and characterization of LCOB and NdLCOB single crystals for laser applications

“…4(a) and (b) for LCOB and NdLCOB crystals, respectively. The present investigation is in good agreement with the results obtained for other borates indicating the wavenumbers of fundamental vibrations of (BO 3 ) 3 À ions in the three distinct regions 1350-1200, 790-730 and 680-590 cm À 1 [16,17]. The absorption peaks around 1230 cm À 1 in both the spectra are due to the asymmetric stretching modes of (BO 3 ) 3 À ions.…”

K3YB6O12: A new nonlinear optical crystal with a short UV cutoff edge

“…YAl 3 (BO 3 ) 4 (YAB) [1,2], Ca 4 REO(BO 3 ) 3 (RE = rare-earth) [3][4][5][6][7], and Na 3 La 9 O 3 (BO 3 ) 8 [8][9][10] due to their potential applications as nonlinear optical (NLO) and selffrequency doubling materials [11]. Traditionally, they are not considered suitable for deep UV generation as their UV cutoff edges are always located at wavelengths above 200 nm.…”

Flux growth of yttrium calcium oxy borate (YCOB) single crystals for nonlinear optical applications

“…The lower cutoff value is in good agreement with the YCOB crystals grown using the Czochralski method [10]. The crystal was nearly 55% transparent in the UV and visible regions (4220 nm) when lithium carbonate was used as the flux [8]. But the transmission percentage has increased to 78% for the crystal when the YCOB single crystals grown from borontri-oxide flux.…”

“…The flux growth of YCOB single crystals from the lithium carbonate flux was performed earlier and reported [8]. This paper reports the successful growth of YCOB single crystals from the self-flux (boron-tri-oxide flux) for the first time.…”