Growth and optical characterizations of (Ba0.32Sr0.68)5Nb4O15 crystal

(Ba0.32Sr0.68)5Nb4O15 crystal with sizes of Ø 17 × 35 mm was grown successfully by Czochralski technique method. The thermal anisotropy was discussed. The principal coefficients of thermal expansion along (100), (010), (001) directions were precisely measured to be 1.308 × 10− 5, 1.288 × 10− 5, 1.478 × 10− 5 K− 1, respectively. Its optical transparency range has been measured and found to span from 323 to 5500 nm. The bands present in the IR spectra were identified and assigned to the corresponding vibration modes of NbO6 anions.