6533b82cfe1ef96bd128f41f

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Bridgman growth of paratellurite single crystals

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Abstract The growth of paratellurite single crystals by the vertical-gradient freezing technique is reported for the first time. Boules of 120 mm long and 25 mm in diameter were obtained under a temperature gradient of 10°C cm −1 and translation rates lower than 0.6 mm h −1 . The spatial distribution of defects along the growth axis reveals a continuous evolution of the free convective fluid-flow regime as growth proceeds. Gas bubbles and dark inclusions rejected to the periphery in the upper part of the crystal are observed to lay preferentially in (1 0 0), (0 0 1), ( 1 1 ¯ 0 ) and (1 1 2) crystallographic planes. Among them, SEM and microprobe analyses evidenced the presence of metallic platinum, while micro-Raman experiments allowed to assess oxygen as being actually the gas content of occluded bubbles, originated at the crucible wall through Pt-induced dissociation of Te–O bonds.