Growth of SrTiO3 Single Crystals with a Diameter of about 30 mm by the Verneuil Method

Abstract

The work demonstrates growth by the Verneuil method of SrTiO3 single crystals of 30 mm in diameter. Experiments are performed under an industrial environment. Growth was for 4.75 h, i.e., within one production shift. The optimum growth conditions for which the length of the region with bubbles D is zero and the effective length EL (i.e., the crystal length of commercial value) is maximized are for the amount of SrCO3 additive of ∼3 wt % and for H2 outer flow rate of ∼35 L/min. These two parameters show the strongest influence on the bubble-free growth, but other growth parameters (H2 inner flow rate, O2 flow rate increase, rotation speed) were also optimized. Selected crystals are characterized from the structural, microstructural, optical, and THz spectroscopy viewpoints, and they are compared with a commercial substrate and with crystals reported in the literature. This work opens the possibility for the industrial growth of large SrTiO3 single crystals and commercialization of large area substrates.