Structure, Optical Properties and Physicochemical Features of LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg,B Crystals Grown in a Single Technological Cycle: An Optical Material for Converting Laser Radiation

Two series of LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg:B crystals have been grown and studied. Two doping methods—have been used. The crystals—have been co-doped with Mg and a non-metallic dopant, B. The physicochemical features of the growth—have been considered for LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg:B cryst...

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Main Authors: Mikhail Palatnikov, Olga Makarova, Alexandra Kadetova, Nikolay Sidorov, Natalya Teplyakova, Irina Biryukova, Olga Tokko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-06-01
Series:Materials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/13/4541
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author Mikhail Palatnikov
Olga Makarova
Alexandra Kadetova
Nikolay Sidorov
Natalya Teplyakova
Irina Biryukova
Olga Tokko
author_facet Mikhail Palatnikov
Olga Makarova
Alexandra Kadetova
Nikolay Sidorov
Natalya Teplyakova
Irina Biryukova
Olga Tokko
author_sort Mikhail Palatnikov
collection DOAJ
description Two series of LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg:B crystals have been grown and studied. Two doping methods—have been used. The crystals—have been co-doped with Mg and a non-metallic dopant, B. The physicochemical features of the growth—have been considered for LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg:B crystals obtained from a boron-doped melt. The charge—has been prepared using different technologies: homogeneous (HG) and solid-phase (SP) doping. The same two methods have been used to grow single-doped LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg crystals. A control near-stoichiometric (NSLN) crystal—has been grown via the HTTSSG (high-temperature top-seeded solution growth) method from a congruent melt (Li/Nb ≈ 0.946) with 5.5 wt% K<sub>2</sub>O. The characteristics of the LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg:B crystals—have been compared with those of the LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg and NSLN crystals. Physicochemical and structural reasons have been established for the differences in the distribution coefficients of magnesium (K<sub>D</sub>) during the growth of the HG- and SP-doped LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:B:Mg and LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg crystals. The optical characteristics of the LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:B:Mg crystals—have been studied via optical spectroscopy, laser conoscopy and photoinduced light scattering (PILS). The influence of boron on the microstructure, compositional and optical uniformities and optical damage resistance of the LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg:B crystals—has been estimated. Optimal technological approaches to growing optically uniform LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:B:Mg crystals have been determined. LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg:B crystals have been shown to have a significant advantage over the commercially used LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg crystals since large LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg:B crystals can be grown without stripes. Such stripes usually appear perpendicular to the growth axis. In addition, the photorefractive effect is suppressed in LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg:B crystals at lower magnesium concentrations ([Mg] ≈ 2.5 mol%) than in LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg ([Mg] ≈ 5.5 mol%).
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spelling doaj.art-0cf421ea3fb34149be949cb8a341cfe92023-11-18T16:56:16ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442023-06-011613454110.3390/ma16134541Structure, Optical Properties and Physicochemical Features of LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg,B Crystals Grown in a Single Technological Cycle: An Optical Material for Converting Laser RadiationMikhail Palatnikov0Olga Makarova1Alexandra Kadetova2Nikolay Sidorov3Natalya Teplyakova4Irina Biryukova5Olga Tokko6Tananaev Institute of Chemistry—Subdivision of the Federal Research Centre, Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICT RAS), 184209 Apatity, RussiaTananaev Institute of Chemistry—Subdivision of the Federal Research Centre, Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICT RAS), 184209 Apatity, RussiaTananaev Institute of Chemistry—Subdivision of the Federal Research Centre, Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICT RAS), 184209 Apatity, RussiaTananaev Institute of Chemistry—Subdivision of the Federal Research Centre, Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICT RAS), 184209 Apatity, RussiaTananaev Institute of Chemistry—Subdivision of the Federal Research Centre, Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICT RAS), 184209 Apatity, RussiaTananaev Institute of Chemistry—Subdivision of the Federal Research Centre, Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICT RAS), 184209 Apatity, RussiaSolid State Physics Department, Petrozavodsk State University, 185910 Petrozavodsk, RussiaTwo series of LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg:B crystals have been grown and studied. Two doping methods—have been used. The crystals—have been co-doped with Mg and a non-metallic dopant, B. The physicochemical features of the growth—have been considered for LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg:B crystals obtained from a boron-doped melt. The charge—has been prepared using different technologies: homogeneous (HG) and solid-phase (SP) doping. The same two methods have been used to grow single-doped LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg crystals. A control near-stoichiometric (NSLN) crystal—has been grown via the HTTSSG (high-temperature top-seeded solution growth) method from a congruent melt (Li/Nb ≈ 0.946) with 5.5 wt% K<sub>2</sub>O. The characteristics of the LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg:B crystals—have been compared with those of the LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg and NSLN crystals. Physicochemical and structural reasons have been established for the differences in the distribution coefficients of magnesium (K<sub>D</sub>) during the growth of the HG- and SP-doped LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:B:Mg and LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg crystals. The optical characteristics of the LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:B:Mg crystals—have been studied via optical spectroscopy, laser conoscopy and photoinduced light scattering (PILS). The influence of boron on the microstructure, compositional and optical uniformities and optical damage resistance of the LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg:B crystals—has been estimated. Optimal technological approaches to growing optically uniform LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:B:Mg crystals have been determined. LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg:B crystals have been shown to have a significant advantage over the commercially used LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg crystals since large LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg:B crystals can be grown without stripes. Such stripes usually appear perpendicular to the growth axis. In addition, the photorefractive effect is suppressed in LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg:B crystals at lower magnesium concentrations ([Mg] ≈ 2.5 mol%) than in LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg ([Mg] ≈ 5.5 mol%).https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/13/4541single crystalslithium niobatedopingdopant distribution coefficientdefect structuremicrostructure
spellingShingle Mikhail Palatnikov
Olga Makarova
Alexandra Kadetova
Nikolay Sidorov
Natalya Teplyakova
Irina Biryukova
Olga Tokko
Structure, Optical Properties and Physicochemical Features of LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg,B Crystals Grown in a Single Technological Cycle: An Optical Material for Converting Laser Radiation
Materials
single crystals
lithium niobate
doping
dopant distribution coefficient
defect structure
microstructure
title Structure, Optical Properties and Physicochemical Features of LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg,B Crystals Grown in a Single Technological Cycle: An Optical Material for Converting Laser Radiation
title_full Structure, Optical Properties and Physicochemical Features of LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg,B Crystals Grown in a Single Technological Cycle: An Optical Material for Converting Laser Radiation
title_fullStr Structure, Optical Properties and Physicochemical Features of LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg,B Crystals Grown in a Single Technological Cycle: An Optical Material for Converting Laser Radiation
title_full_unstemmed Structure, Optical Properties and Physicochemical Features of LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg,B Crystals Grown in a Single Technological Cycle: An Optical Material for Converting Laser Radiation
title_short Structure, Optical Properties and Physicochemical Features of LiNbO<sub>3</sub>:Mg,B Crystals Grown in a Single Technological Cycle: An Optical Material for Converting Laser Radiation
title_sort structure optical properties and physicochemical features of linbo sub 3 sub mg b crystals grown in a single technological cycle an optical material for converting laser radiation
topic single crystals
lithium niobate
doping
dopant distribution coefficient
defect structure
microstructure
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/13/4541
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