Growth of negative solubility lithium sulfate monohydrate crystal by slow evaporation and Sankaranarayanan–Ramasamy method

• Published in: Journal of crystal growth Vol. 345; no. 1; pp. 1 - 6
• Main Authors: Boopathi, K., Rajesh, P., Ramasamy, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15-04-2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: A1. Solubility; A2. Growth from solutions; B1. Lithium compounds; B2. Piezoelectric materials; Charge; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Crystals; Diamond pyramid hardness; Dielectric loss; Dielectric, piezoelectric, ferroelectric and antiferroelectric materials; Dielectrics, piezoelectrics, and ferroelectrics and their properties; Diffraction; Equations of state, phase equilibria, and phase transitions; Exact sciences and technology; Growth from vapor; Lithium sulfates; Materials science; Methods of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth; Physics; Piezoelectricity; Solubility; Solubility, segregation, and mixing; phase separation; Theory and models of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth, crystal morphology and orientation; A2. Growth from solutions; B1. Lithium compounds; A1. Solubility; B2. Piezoelectric materials; Crystal growth; Vickers hardness; Crystal growth from vapors; XRD; Crystal perfection; Lithium compounds; Optical properties; Damage; Growth from solution; Hydrates; Temperature dependence; Second harmonic generation; Solubility; Lithium sulfate; Mechanical properties; Evaporation; Laser threshold; Monocrystals; Piezoelectric materials; Dielectric losses; Growth mechanism
• ISSN: 0022-0248; 1873-5002
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2012.01.036

Single crystals of negatively soluble lithium sulfate monohydrate (LSMH) have been grown by conventional and Sankaranarayanan–Ramasamy (SR) methods. A negatively soluble material has been grown for the first time by the SR method. The size of the grown crystal is 40mm length and 15mm diameter. The solubility of the material has been found at different temperatures. The grown crystals were subjected to high resolution X-ray diffraction studies, UV–vis analysis, dielectric measurements, Vickers micro-hardness, piezoelectric measurements, laser damage threshold and second harmonic generation studies. Crystalline perfection of the grown crystals was analyzed using HRXRD. The grown crystals were found to be transparent in the entire visible region. The SR method grown crystal has higher hardness, lower dielectric loss, higher piezoelectric charge coefficient and higher laser stability compared to the conventional method grown crystal. The powder Kurtz method confirms that LSMH has SHG efficiency.
► Bulk growth of negatively soluble lithium sulfate monohydrate has been achieved. ► High crystalline perfection and laser damage threshold have been achieved. ► High d33 is observed in unidirectional crystal compared to conventional crystal.