Synthesis and flux-growth of rare-earth magnesium pentaborate crystals RMgB5O10 (R = Y, Gd, La, Tm and Yb)

• Published in: Journal of crystal growth 2022-06, Vol.587, p.126628, Article 126628
• Main Authors: Maltsev, Victor V., Mitina, Diana D., Belokoneva, Elena L., Volkova, Elena A., Koporulina, Elizaveta V., Jiliaeva, Anna I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: A1 Crystal morphology; A2 Flux growth; B1 Borates; B3 Solid state lasers; Borates; Erbium; Gadolinium; Magnesium; Neodymium; Rare earth elements; Single crystals; Solid phase synthesis; Ytterbium; Yttrium
• ISSN: 0022-0248; 1873-5002
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2022.126628

•Phase formation in the RMgB5O10-K2Mo3O10 flux system was studied.•RMgB5O10single crystals were grown by SGDS and fluxed-melt techniques.•New TmMgB5O10 and YbMgB5O10 were synthesized via the solid-state reaction method. For the first time, to our knowledge, RMgB5O10 (R = Tm, Yb) compounds have been synthesized by solid-phase synthesis. For RMgB5O10 (R = Y, La, Gd) the growth conditions are optimized in the temperature range 1000 – 800 °C by the flux method with a change in the concentration of the crystal-forming component vs the concentration of the solvent in the initial load. Using the data obtained the RMgB5O10 single crystals with optical quality and dimensions up to 20 mm × 20 mm × 10 mm co-activated with erbium, ytterbium, and neodymium were growth by the solution growth from dipped seed (SGDS) method. (Er,Yb):RMgB5O10 in general have characteristics similar to the previously studied laser crystals of huntite-type borates (Er,Yb):RAl3(BO3)4 (R = Y, Gd, Lu) and appear to be an alternative material due to a simpler growing and processing technology.