Shape-controlled crystal growth of Sr3NbGa3Si2O14 and Sr3TaGa3Si2O14 piezoelectric single crystal by micro-pulling-down method
We have grown the shape-controlled Sr<inf>3</inf>NbGa<inf>3</inf>Si<inf>2</inf>O<inf>14</inf> (SNGS) and Sr<inf>3</inf>TaGa<inf>3</inf>Si<inf>2</inf>O<inf>14</inf> (STGS) langasite-type crystals by the μ-PD method. Columnar-shaped SNGS and STGS crystals were grown using the Pt-Rh crucible with a columnar die in 3 mm diameter. Grown crystals indicated high transparency and approximately 3 mm diameter. Chemical phases of grown crystals were identified as a single phase of langasite-type structure. The lattice parameters of grown crystals were almost consistent with those of crystals grown by Czochralski (Cz) method. In the X-ray rocking curve measurements, the grown crystals indicated equivalent crystallinity to the crystal grown by Cz method.
Characterization of high temperature piezoelectric crystals with an ordered langasite structure
Piezoelectric single crystals with the ordered langasite structure A3BC3D2O14, including Sr3TaGa3Si2O14, Sr3NbGa3Si2O14, Ca3TaGa3Si2O14, and Ca3TaAl3Si2O14 (CTAS), were studied as a function of temperature, up to 900 °C. The dielectric permittivity e11 and piezoelectric coefficient d11 of the ordered crystals were found to be on the orders of 12–16 and 4–5 pC/N, respectively, slightly lower than langasite (La3Ga5SiO14-LGS) or langanite (La3Ga5.5Nb0.5O14) crystals which possess a disordered structure. The mechanical quality factor Q and electrical resistivity ρ, however, were found to be greatly improved at elevated temperatures ≥500 °C, being one to two orders of magnitude higher, due to cation ordering. Of particular interest is the CTAS crystal, in which, the Ga cations are totally replaced by low cost Al cations. Together with its thermally stable piezoelectric properties and high electrical resistivity, CTAS crystals offer a competitive material for high temperature sensing applications.
Synthesis and characterization of Sr3TaGa3Si2O14 single crystals
New piezoelectric Sr3TaGa3Si2O14 (STGS) single crystals were grown using the Czochralski technique. The crystal structure of STGS is isostructural to that of Ca3Ga2Ge4O14, which has the trigonal space group P321 and Z = 1. The lattice parameters were a = 8.293(2) and c = 5.078(2) A. The final R-factors were R = 0.047 and Rw = 0.046 for 1406 unique reflections. The distribution of each cation was found to be ordered in each site. Some piezoelectric properties of STGS are reported.