Development of a multipurpose heat treatment apparatus favorable for the growth of solution-based large-size crystal

Abstract

An inexpensive temperature-controlled apparatus has been developed with the intention to use it during the growth of any solution-based crystal. It consists of a metallic cell and an application-specific, stand-alone, and programmable electronic controller. That can purposely deliver unequal heating power independently to its three individual heating channels. The system was designed with the aid of an Arduino-Uno board. It was indigenously built within the laboratory with limited in-campus facilities and using locally available standard electronic modules and components. It may have diverse applications for controllable synthesis processes in scientific laboratories and its structural as well as electronic design can be modified easily according to any specific user requirement.