GROWTH KINETIC-STUDY OF POTASSIUM NIOBATE SINGLE-CRYSTAL - A NEW METHOD FOR HIGH TIME-RESOLUTION KINETIC DATA OF ABO(3)-TYPE MATERIALS

A new method to obtain high time-resolution kinetic data has been intr oduced in conjunction with a directional growth of KNbO3 single crysta l. Using the step-growth on a selected (1 0 0)(pc) plane, experimental conditions such as solid-liquid-vapour meniscus, solute concentration , and temperature, can be well defined for the kinetic data. Due to th e selective growth employed, the growth data account truly for a cryst allographic plane of interest. Because the grown steps serve as a time marker, the volume of step can be measured and assigned to a respecti ve growth whose time resolution achieved in this study is 8.4 s. In ad dition, using the current method, sequential growth events can be cond ucted with variable pulling rates to abstract different growth informa tion. Small growth perturbation can also be recorded sensitively, as e videnced in the growth oscillation observed. Based on these findings, it is suggested that the method can be employed to other oxide perovsk ite ABO(3) single crystal growths. Future applications and investigati ons are also proposed.