Subsolidus phase relations and the crystallization region of LiNbO3 in the system Li2O–B2O3–Nb2O5

Subsolidus phase relations in ternary system Li2O–B2O3–Nb2O5 were determined and its phase diagram was constructed with the aid of XRD analysis. Eleven three-phase regions were identified in the subsolid phase diagram while no ternary compound was found. Meanwhile, four pseudo-binary systems, i.e., LiNbO3–LiB3O5, LiNbO3–Li2B4O7, LiNbO3–LiBO2, and LiNbO3–Li3B2O4.5, were investigated and partial phase diagrams were determined on the LiNbO3-rich side. Finally, the crystallization region of LiNbO3 was identified in the ternary phase diagram. LiNbO3 crystals can be grown by using a lithium borate as the flux below 1100 °C.