Flux growth of CsLiB6O10 crystals

To obtain high quality CsLiB6O10 (CLBO) crystal, we used NaF as flux to grow CLBO crystals for the first time. The solubility of CLBO showed that the favorable mol concentration of CLBO in the NaF flux system was in the range of 65–85%. The viscosity of solutions was investigated. Using the top-seeded solution growth (TSSG) method, a CsLiB6O10 (CLBO) crystal with the dimensions of 54×51×32 mm3 was grown from the NaF flux system. A 5×5×5 mm3 crystal sample cut from the grown CLBO crystal was etched by an etchant that consisted of 15 ml glycerol and 15 ml water at room temperature, for comparison with another CLBO crystal sample got from the self-flux system was used. From the surface etching patterns, it was indicated that CLBO crystal grown from NaF flux system may be more stable than that from self-flux system.