Single crystal growth from separated educts and its application to lithium transition-metal oxides

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a novel method for growing lithium transition-metal oxide single crystals from separated educts in open air, enabling better control over nucleation and transport processes.

Contribution

It introduces a new approach to crystal growth from separated educts in open systems, expanding possibilities for materials synthesis.

Findings

Successful growth of {}-Li2IrO3 from separated educts in air

Application of method to Li2RuO3, Li2PtO3, and {}-Li2IrO3

Potential for broader application to other materials

Abstract

Thorough mixing of the starting materials is the first step of a crystal growth procedure. This holds true for almost any standard technique, whereas the intentional separation of educts is considered to be restricted to a very limited number of cases. A noticeable exception is the crystal growth in gels that allows for a better control of the nucleation by limiting the diffusion. The successful application of this principle to open systems, however, has remained elusive. Here we show that single crystals of {\alpha}-Li2IrO3 can be grown from separated educts in an open crucible in air. Elemental lithium and iridium are oxidized and transported over a distance of typically one centimeter in an isothermal process. Single crystals grow from an exposed condensation point placed in between the educts. The method has also been applied to the growth of Li2RuO3, Li2PtO3 and {\beta}-Li2IrO3 and a successful use for various other materials is anticipated.