Crystal growth and stoichiometry of LiNbO3 prepared by the flux method

The high temperature top seeded solution growth technique (HTTSSG) is the leading candidate to grow stoichiometric lithium niobate single crystals. The effect of the growth conditions on the crystal perfection prepared by the HTTSSG from potassium containing flux was investigated. Various flux compositions were tested to assign the limits of the preparation of stoichiometric crystals. It was shown that the key parameter is the crystallization temperatures and that it should be below 1160 °C to obtain stoichiometric crystals with homogeneous composition.