Growth of single crystal K_3Y_3(BO_3)_4 with low-symmetry structure and multi-type of substitutional sites

摘要

Single crystals of K_3Y_3(BO_3)_4 were grown using the KBO_2, Li F, and Li_2CO_3 as the fluxes by the top-seed solution method. The K_3Y_3(BO_3)_4 can be an excellent host for doping of Yb^(3+), because there are six low-symmetric yttrium atoms in one unit-cell of K_3Y_3(BO3_)_4. The growth of K_3Y_3(BO_3)_4 was studied in detail, and a good crystal with sizes of 24 mm×15 mm×8 mm was grown successfully below 900 °C. Some characteristics, such as the X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and thermal analysis, were also performed.