Synthesis and characterization of α-GaPO4 single crystals grown by the flux method

Hexagonal gallium orthophosphate crystals with sizes of 6×4×1 mm3 have been obtained by spontaneous nucleation using the slow cooling method from X2O–3MoO3 fluxes with X=Li, K. Infrared transmission measurements revealed samples without significant hydroxyl groups and thermal analyses have pointed out the total reversibility state of the phase transition α-quartz GaPO4↔β-cristobalite GaPO4.