Research paperGrowth mechanism, dielectric, elastic and thermal properties of zinc cadmium thiocyanate crystal as a potential piezoelectric crystal

•Growth habits of ZCTC been investigated photographically by means of micro-crystallization method, and bulk crystals with dimensions of 51 × 15 × 12 and 28 × 13 × 12 mm3 were obtained by the solvent-evaporation method.•The two-dimensional nucleation growth mechanism and crystal twinning defect of ZCTC crystal were discovered for the first time.•The relative dielectric constants and elastic compliance constants were determined. Meanwhile first-principles calculation was used to calculate elastic constants.•The thermal diffusivities and thermal conductivities were obtained.

Bulk single crystals of zinc cadmium thiocyanate, ZnCd(SCN)4 (ZCTC) with dimensions of 51 × 15 × 12 and 28 × 13 × 12 mm3 have been obtained. Growth habits were investigated, two-dimensional nucleation growth mechanism and crystal twinning defect were observed from the as-grown crystals. The thermal diffusivities were measured, and then thermal conductivities were calculated with values decreasing from 1.3683 to 0.8739 W⋅m−1⋅K−1 and 0.8496 to 0.5356 W⋅m−1⋅K−1 as the temperature increasing from 303 to 423 K, along the a- and c-directions, respectively. The relative dielectric constants and elastic compliance constants at room temperature were determined. Meanwhile, first-principles calculation was used to calculate elastic constants.

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