Journal of Crystal Growth, Vol.468, 335-339, 2017
Crystal growth of pyrochlore rare-earth stannates
We report crystal growth of several rare-earth stannates RE2Sn2O7 (RE=Pr, Tb, Ho, Dy, Yb and Lu) using the flux technique. Different combinations of flux were tried, and a Na2B4O7-NaF (1.2:1) mixture was found to be suitable for crystal growth. X-ray diffraction and thermal characterisation data are presented, as well as some initial measurements of magnetic and thermodynamic properties of the crystals. Little effect was observed with changing oxygen content by Sc substitution for Sn.
Keywords:Single crystal;Growth from high temperature solutions;Flux growth technique;Magnetic materials;Pyrochlore;Stannates