Growth of Incipient Ferroelectric KTaO3 Single Crystals by a Modified Self-Flux Solution Method

authors	Zlotnik, S; Vilarinho, PM; Costa, MEV; Moreira, JA; Almeida, A
nationality	International
journal	CRYSTAL GROWTH & DESIGN
keywords	POTASSIUM TANTALATE; RESONANCE; SRTIO3
abstract	High-quality potassium tantalate (KTaO3, KT) single crystals are grown by a high-temperature self-flux solution modified method in which potassium carbonate (K2CO3) and boron oxide (B2O3) are utilized as a complex flux. Additions of small amounts of boron oxide, used because of its low melting temperature (450 degrees C) and tendency to decrease the weight losses, increased the metastable region, requiring lower temperature (<= 1300 degrees C) for the growth of relatively large KT crystals thereby suppressing the K volatilization tendency. By changing the flux composition and flux to solute proportion growth conditions are modified. The as-grown potassium tantalate crystals exhibit a dielectric permittivity of 6600 and dielectric losses of 0.004 at 13 K and 100 kHz. These results suggest a new promising approach for growing relatively large size and high quality single crystals within KT-based system.
publisher	AMER CHEMICAL SOC
issn	1528-7483
year published	2010
volume	10
issue	8
beginning page	3397
ending page	3404
digital object identifier (doi)	10.1021/cg100036v
web of science category	Chemistry, Multidisciplinary; Crystallography; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
subject category	Chemistry; Crystallography; Materials Science
unique article identifier	WOS:000280471700018