Abstract
The growth of paratellurite single crystals by the vertical-gradient freezing technique is reported for the first time. Boules of 120mm long and 25mm in diameter were obtained under a temperature gradient of 10°Ccm−1 and translation rates lower than 0.6mmh−1. The spatial distribution of defects along the growth axis reveals a continuous evolution of the free convective fluid-flow regime as growth proceeds. Gas bubbles and dark inclusions rejected to the periphery in the upper part of the crystal are observed to lay preferentially in (100), (001), (11¯0) and (112) crystallographic planes. Among them, SEM and microprobe analyses evidenced the presence of metallic platinum, while micro-Raman experiments allowed to assess oxygen as being actually the gas content of occluded bubbles, originated at the crucible wall through Pt-induced dissociation of Te–O bonds.
Published Version
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