Effect of Mn doping on the growth and properties of enstatite single crystals.

Authors :: Catalano, Manuela
Bloise, Andrea
Pingitore, Valentino
Miriello, Domenico
Cazzanelli, Enzo
Giarola, Marco
Mariotto, Gino
Barrese, Eugenio
Source :: Crystal Research & Technology; Sep2014, Vol. 49 Issue 9, p736-742, 7p
Publication Year :: 2014
Abstract: Millimetric Mn-doped enstatite (MgSiO<subscript>3</subscript>) crystals have been grown by slow cooling in MoO<subscript>3</subscript>, V<subscript>2</subscript>O<subscript>5</subscript>, and Li<subscript>2</subscript>CO<subscript>3</subscript> flux. Six starting mixture with different amount of manganese were slowly cooled from 1350 °C, 1050 °C and 950 °C down to 750 °C, 650 °C and 600 °C respectively. The enstatite crystals were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectrometry (SEM/EDS). Mn-doped enstatite crystals were reddish in color, euhedral and elongate parallel to c-axis. The largest enstatite crystal obtained is 8.5 mm in length. The effects of growth parameters on yield and size of crystals were studied. Variations observed in crystal size were attributed to the amount of Mn doping. Further characterizations by μ-Raman spectroscopy (μ-R) and cathodoluminescence (CL) allowed to study the effect of Mn doping on some chemical/physical characteristics of the enstatite and to assess its potential in advanced technological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]