In-situ study on growth units of Ba2Mg(B3O6)2 crystal

• Published in: Journal of crystal growth 2013-05, Vol.371, p.107-111
• Main Authors: Lv, X.S., Sun, Y.L., Tang, X.L., Wan, S.M., Zhang, Q.L., You, J.L., Yin, S.T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: A1. Crystal morphology; A1. Growth units; A1. High-temperature Raman spectroscopy; A2. Growth from melt; Attachment; B1. Borates; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Crystal growth; Crystal structure; Crystals; Exact sciences and technology; Growth from melts; zone melting and refining; Habits; Magnesium oxide; Materials science; Melting; Methods of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth; Physics; Raman scattering; Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography; Structure of specific crystalline solids; Theory and models of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth, crystal morphology and orientation
• ISSN: 0022-0248; 1873-5002
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2013.02.017

BMBO (Ba2Mg(B3O6)2 crystal) is an excellent birefringent crystal and a potential stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) crystal. In this paper, high temperature Raman spectroscopy was used to in-situ study the melt structure near a BMBO crystal–melt interface. [B3O6]3− groups were found in this region. The result reveals that both of BaO bonds and MgO bonds are the weak bonds in the BMBO crystal structure. During the melting process, the crystal structure broke into Ba2+ ions, Mg2+ ions and [B3O6]3− groups. Our experimental results confirmed that the well-developed faces of BMBO crystals are the (001), (101) and (012) faces. Based on attachment energy theory, the crystal growth habit was discussed. The (001) (101) and (012) crystal faces linked by the weak BaO bonds and MgO bonds have smaller attachment energies and slower growth rates, and thus present in the final morphology. The (012) crystal face has a multi-terrace structure, which suggests that BMBO crystal grows with a layer-by-layer mode. ► The melt structure near a Ba2Mg(B3O6)2 crystal–melt interface was in-situ investigated. ► [B3O6]3− groups were found in the melt near the Ba2Mg(B3O6)2 crystal–melt interface. ► The growth habit of Ba2Mg(B3O6)2 crystal was discussed.