High-temperature crystallization of novel rare-earth borate materials: Single crystals and thin films

Abstract

Phase formation has been studied in the complex system YbAl 3(BO3)4 - K2Mo3O 10 - B2O3 - Yb2O3 within the stability region of YbAl3(BO3)4 (YbAB). The obtained data were compared with those for YAl3(BO3) 4 as another end member of the YbAB-YAB solid solutions. Visually transparent (Er,Yb):YAl3(BO3)4 single crystals with a typical size up to 10×10×15 mm3 and crystalline layers were obtained from K2Mo3O10 based fluxed melts. The 1.5 μm emission spectra of (Er,Yb):YAl3(BO 3)4 thin films as well as bulk crystals were measured using CW Ti:sapphire laser tuned to 976 nm as a pump source. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.