Growth of YCOB single crystals by flux technique and their characterization

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. (C) 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.