Flux growth and characterizations of NdPO4 single crystals

Neodymium phosphate single crystals, NdPO4, have been grown by a flux growth method using Li2CO3-2MoO3 as a flux. The as-grown crystals were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction(XRPD), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG) techniques. The results show that the as-grown crystals were well crystallized. The crystal was stable over the temperature range from 26 to 1200 °C in N2. The specific heat of NdPO4 crystal at room temperature was 0.41 J/g °C. The absorption and the fluorescence spectra of NdPO4 crystal were also measured at room temperature.