Growth of small GeO2 single crystals on a polyvinyl chloride substrate at room temperature using oversaturate aqueous solution

Abstract

AbstractSmall GeO2 single crystal was successfully grown on a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) substrate at room temperature in oversaturate aqueous solution. The oversaturated solution could be prepared at strong acid condition (pH 0) using distilled water, germanium oxide, dilute ammonia, and nitric acid. About 7 μm size of the GeO2 single crystals with quartz‐type structure was obtained by only keeping the PVC plate in the solution for about 10 days when appropriate concentration of the solution was used. The obtained GeO2 single crystals were confirmed to be constructed by {101} and {011} surfaces based on powder X‐ray diffraction pattern and particle morphology observed by scanning electron microscope.