Utilizing various methods to grow bulk single crystals of functional inorganic materials!

Keywords: inorganic materials, bulk single crystals, crystal engineering, Czochralski method, Bridgman method, floating zone melting method, flux method, optical materials

In a certain substance, a state where atoms are arranged in a regular periodic manner in three dimensions is called a crystal, while compounds without periodicity are referred to as amorphous (such as glass). Furthermore, a substance is only called a "material" when it is used for human purposes. Our research group focuses on functional inorganic materials such as oxides and halides (especially iodides), conducting research on "bulk single crystals" where the periodic arrangement of atoms is organized over millimeters to centimeters. We primarily engage in the growth of bulk single crystals of inorganic materials with electrical and optical functions, as well as crystal structure analysis, physical property evaluation, and characterization. By using bulk single crystals, it is possible to exhibit special functions that reflect the crystal structure or evaluate physical properties unique to single crystals. The lineup of crystal growth methods is also diverse, allowing for the selection of appropriate growth methods based on the chemical properties, melting points, and sizes of the substances (two Czochralski furnaces, two vertical Bridgman furnaces, one floating zone melting method, one resistance heating micro-pulling furnace, and flux slow-cooling method).

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