Crystal growth of Sr3BeB6O13 and its thermal and optical properties

Abstract Bulk single crystals of Sr3BeB6O13 with dimensions up to 50 × 30 × 5 mm3 were grown for the first time by a top-seeded solution growth method using H3BO3-LiF-SrF2 as flux. The average thermal expansion coefficients along the a-, b- and c-axis from 50 °C to 500 °C were determined as αa = 9.18 × 10−6 K−1, αb = 14.63 × 10−6 K−1, αc = 8.56 × 10−6 K−1, respectively. The specific heat was measured to be 0.771–0.844 J/(g·K) over the temperature range of 50–500 °C. In addition, the UV cutoff wavelength of Sr3BeB6O13 is located at 190 nm. Its refractive indices were accurately measured by a minimal deviation method, based on which the Sellmeier equations were derived.