Growth, optical and microstructural properties of PbB4O7 plate crystals

• Optical quality plate-like faceted PbB4O7 crystals are grown by Czochralski method.
• The defect structure is revealed by etching in hot diluted nitric acid.
• The (1 0 0) surface shows the presence of etching pits and twin boundaries.
• The Kikuchi lines and developed microrelief are observed by RHEED and AFM.

Centimeter-sized optical quality plate-like PbB4O7 crystals have been grown by Czochralski method. The fundamental absorption edge has been found at 237 nm (corresponding bandgap 5.75 eV) with the distinct sideband protruding up to 300 nm. The crystals are well faceted with the (1 0 0), (0 1 0) and (1 0 1) planes, (1 0 0) surfaces being mostly developed. The etching in diluted nitric acid (5 wt.%) at the temperature of 90 °C have been used to reveal the defect structure and remove melt residuals. The (1 0 0) surface shows the presence of etching pits and twin boundaries. The Kikuchi line pattern and developed microrelief with the roughness of ∼8 nm have been observed by RHEED and AFM, respectively.

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