Growth of longest 〈1 0 0〉 oriented benzophenone single crystal from solution at ambient temperature

A transparent uniaxial benzophenone crystal having dimension of 500 mm length and 55 mm diameter was grown at room temperature for the first time in the literature. The experimental parameters involved in the present study were investigated in detail and a constant growth rate was achieved by compensating the loss of growth units in the solution. In contrast to the conventional solution growth method, the growth rate along each direction was measured at ease during the respective growth experiment by monitoring the elevation of the solid–liquid interface and found to be 2, 4 and 6 mm/day along the 〈1 1 0〉, 〈0 1 0〉 and 〈1 0 0〉 directions, respectively, for a chosen Supersaturation. X-ray topograph and etching studies illustrates the quality of the grown crystal. Microhardness measurements reveal the mechanical strength of the grown ingot.