Growth and characterization of large CeAlO3 perovskite crystals

• Large CeAlO3 crystals are grown first time by the Czochralski and EFG techniques.
• Transparent crystals are obtained by optimization of thermal annealing procedure.
• Feasibility to obtain CeAlO3 crystal rods, plates, tubes, cylinders is shown.
• Luminescence with decay times in the 38-43 ns range is observed at UV-excitation.

This study is focused on obtaining large CeAlO3 single crystals. Using Czochralski and Edge-Defined Film Fed Growth techniques, crystals of length up to 130 mm were obtained. The crystals belong to the tetragonal low temperature modification of CeAlO3, space group P4/mmm, a=3.7669 Å, с=3.7967 Å. Density and crystallographic parameters as well as some optical, luminescence and magnetic properties of CeAlO3 were studied. The crystals demonstrate rather bright luminescence under UV-excitation, while no luminescence has been registered under X-rays. Ceramic and single crystalline CeAlO3 samples demonstrate p-type conductivity and promising paramagnetic properties.