A Yb3+-doped NaY(WO4)2crystal grown by the Czochralski technique

Abstract

A transparent Yb3+:NaY(WO4)2single crystal with dimensions of 30 mm (diameter) × 40 mm has been grown by the Czochralski method. The high crystalline quality of the as-grown Yb3+:NaY(WO4)2crystals was confirmed by high-resolution X-ray diffraction. The effective segregation coefficients of elemental Yb, Na, Y and W in Yb3+:NaY(WO4)2were measured using the X-ray fluorescence method. Powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction data of NaYb0.05Y0.95(WO4)2are reported. The structure refinement shows that NaYb0.05Y0.95(WO4)2crystallizes in the tetragonal space groupI41/a, witha=b= 5.2039 (2),c= 11.2838 (9) Å, α = β = γ = 90°,V= 305.57 (3) Å3andZ= 2. A series of possible growth faces (hkl) were determined from the crystal lattice and symmetry according to the Bravais–Friedel Donnay–Harker theory, and the relationship among crystal structure, growth habits and crystal morphology is discussed. In addition, the thermal properties of the crystal, including the specific heat, thermal expansion, thermal diffusion and thermal conductivity, were carefully investigated. The anisotropy of the crystal thermal conductivities is explained from the point of view of the crystal structure.