Liquid Phase Epitaxial Growth of CaMoO₄: Nd Film Crystals

Abstract

Calcium molybdate film crystals doped with neodymium (CaMoO₄: Nd) were grown from an Na2MoO₄ flux by a liquid phase epitaxial method. The growth was conducted by immersing CaMoO₄ s ubstrate crystals (about 3 mm×3 mm) in the high-temperature solutions (1000°C) of CaMoO₄ (28.5mol%)-Na₂MoO₄ (71.5 mol%) containing a small amount of Nd₂O₃ for 8 h, and subsequent coolin g to 950, 900 or 850°C at a rate of 6°Ch^-1. Pale purple and transparent CaMoO₄: Nd film crystals were homoepitaxially grown on the substrate crystals. The grown crystals were up to about 58μm in thickness depending upon the slow cooling range. The indices of the well-developed faces were [112]. Neodymium was homogeneously incorporated in the film crystals. Sodium from the flux was also incorporated in the crystals.