Crystal growth of bismuth tungstate Bi2WO6 by slow cooling method using borate fluxes

• Published in: Journal of the European Ceramic Society 2005, Vol.25 (12), p.2731-2734
• Main Authors: TAKEDA, Hiroaki, NISHIDA, Takashi, OKAMURA, Soichiro, SHIOSAKI, Tadashi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Dielectric, piezoelectric, ferroelectric and antiferroelectric materials; Dielectrics, piezoelectrics, and ferroelectrics and their properties; Exact sciences and technology; Growth from solutions; Materials science; Methods of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth; Niobates, titanates, tantalates, pzt ceramics, etc; Physics
• ISSN: 0955-2219; 1873-619X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2005.03.184

Ferroelectric Bi2WO6 (BWO) single crystals have been grown by a flux method below the phase transition (ferro-- to paraelectric) temperature. Sodium chloride, LiBO2, Li2B4O7 (LBO), Na2B4O7 (NBO) and Na2B4O7*10H2O were selected as the flux. We found that LBO and NBO are suitable flux materials for crystal growth. The phase diagram of the BWO--LBO(NBO) system was investigated by the combination of the differential thermal analysis and the quench method. In the BWO--LBO(NBO) binary system, the mixtures of the end members without intermediate compounds were observed. On the basis of the phase diagram, we have obtained plate--like crystals with sizes up to 0*7mm thickness from the solidified melts with the mole ratio BWO:LBO of 7:3. The crystals are single domain, yellow in color, and have well developed smooth {001} faces. The dielectric constant, *?33/*?0, of the crystals is 90 at room temperature and the ferroelectric behavior is available.