TY - JOUR
T1 - Flux growth utilizing the reaction between flux and crucible
AU - Yan, J. Q.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
PY - 2015/4/15
Y1 - 2015/4/15
N2 - Flux growth involves dissolving the components of the target compound in an appropriate flux at high temperatures and then crystallizing under supersaturation controlled by cooling or evaporating the flux. A refractory crucible is generally used to contain the high temperature melt. The reaction between the melt and crucible materials can modify the composition of the melt, which typically results in growth failure, or contaminates the crystals. Thus one principle in designing a flux growth is to select suitable flux and crucible materials thus to avoid any reaction between them. In this paper, we review two cases of flux growth in which the reaction between flux and Al2O3 crucible tunes the oxygen content in the melt and helps the crystallization of desired compositions. For the case of La5Pb3O, the Al2O3 crucible oxidizes La to form a passivating La2O3 layer which not only prevents further oxidization of La in the melt but also provides [O] to the melt. For the case of La0.4Na0.6Fe2As2, it is believed that the Al2O3 crucible reacts with NaAsO2 and the reaction consumes oxygen in the melt thus maintaining an oxygen-free environment.
AB - Flux growth involves dissolving the components of the target compound in an appropriate flux at high temperatures and then crystallizing under supersaturation controlled by cooling or evaporating the flux. A refractory crucible is generally used to contain the high temperature melt. The reaction between the melt and crucible materials can modify the composition of the melt, which typically results in growth failure, or contaminates the crystals. Thus one principle in designing a flux growth is to select suitable flux and crucible materials thus to avoid any reaction between them. In this paper, we review two cases of flux growth in which the reaction between flux and Al2O3 crucible tunes the oxygen content in the melt and helps the crystallization of desired compositions. For the case of La5Pb3O, the Al2O3 crucible oxidizes La to form a passivating La2O3 layer which not only prevents further oxidization of La in the melt but also provides [O] to the melt. For the case of La0.4Na0.6Fe2As2, it is believed that the Al2O3 crucible reacts with NaAsO2 and the reaction consumes oxygen in the melt thus maintaining an oxygen-free environment.
KW - A1. Diffusion
KW - A1. Solubility
KW - A2. Growth from high temperature solutions
KW - B1. Arsenates
KW - B2. Superconducting materials
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84922487423&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2015.01.017
DO - 10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2015.01.017
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84922487423
SN - 0022-0248
VL - 416
SP - 62
EP - 65
JO - Journal of Crystal Growth
JF - Journal of Crystal Growth
ER -