Abstract
Thorough mixing of the starting materials is the first step of a crystal growth procedure. This holds true for almost any standard technique, whereas the intentional separation of educts is considered to be restricted to a very limited number of cases. Here we show that single crystals of α-Li2IrO3 can be grown from separated educts in an open crucible in air. Elemental lithium and iridium are oxidized and transported over a distance of typically one centimeter. In contrast to classical vapor transport, the process is essentially isothermal and a temperature gradient of minor importance. Single crystals grow from an exposed condensation point placed in between the educts. The method has also been applied to the growth of Li2RuO3, Li2PtO3 and β-Li2IrO3. A successful use of this simple and low cost technique for various other materials is anticipated.
Highlights
Thorough mixing of the starting materials is the first step of a crystal growth procedure
The honeycomb iridates α-Li2IrO3 and Na2IrO3 attracted a lot of attention after Khaliullin and co-workers proposed that these systems offer a physical realization of the Kitaev interaction[1] in a solid[2,3]
Direct evidence for the entanglement between spatial and spin directions, which is a consequence of the Kitaev exchange coupling, was recently observed in Na2IrO3 by means of diffuse magnetic X-ray scattering[7]
Summary
Thorough mixing of the starting materials is the first step of a crystal growth procedure. The X-ray diffraction pattern and the sharpness of the phase transition to the magnetically ordered state revealed a superior sample quality when compared to polycrystalline material (see below). Heating mixtures of Li2CO3 with Ir or IrO2 to sufficiently high temperatures leads to the formation of α-Li2IrO3 under release of CO2.
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