CRYSTAL-GROWTH FROM SOLUTION IN THE INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS OF THE CHINESE-ACADEMY-OF-SCIENCES

The history of crystal growth in the Institute may be traced back to 1952. At that time, crystals of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP) were grown for the purpose of piezoelectric studies. However, relatively extensive development of the discipline of crystal growth using various techniques begain in 1958. Since then, several achievements have been made in succession, the more significant of which were the synthesis of high-quality crystals for technological applications and basic research, such as Cr:K//3Co(CN)//6, ruby, quartz, diamond, Ni:YAG, In:BCVIG, alpha -LiIO//3, GGG and LiNbO//3, etc. Among them quite a number of crystals are grown from solution. Crystal growth by aqueous solution, gel, and hydrothermal and flux methods in this institute are briefly reviewed.