Effect of Li/Nb ratio on growth and spectrometric characterization of Mg:Ce:Cu:LiNbO3 crystals

Mg:Ce:Cu:LiNbO3 crystals with various [Li]/[Nb] ratio were grown using the Czochraksli method from melts having compositions varying between 48.6 and 58.3 mol% Li2O. The inductively coupled plasma optical emission/mass spectrometry, the X-ray power diffraction, the differential thermal analysis, the ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra and the infrared absorption spectrum were measured and discussed in terms of the spectrometric characterization and the defect structure of crystals. The results showed that as the [Li]/[Nb] ratio in the melt increased, the [Li]/[Nb] ratio in the crystal was more close to stoichiometry, UV absorption edge exhibited a non-line shift, and the threshold concentration of MgO in Mg:Ce:Cu:LiNbO3 decreased.