Single crystal growth of Ga3Ni2 by the Czochralski method

Wencka, Magdalena; Pillaca, Mirtha and Gille, Peter (2016): Single crystal growth of Ga3Ni2 by the Czochralski method. In: Journal of Crystal Growth, Vol. 449: pp. 114-118

Abstract

Intermetallic compounds have proved to be interesting alternatives to heterogeneous catalysts prepared from pure noble metals or their alloys. As to study their intrinsic properties, to determine the crystalline structures of specific surfaces and finally to understand elementary processes of heterogeneous catalysis, single crystals of these intermetallics are needed. Inspired by the recent discovery of Ga-Ni catalysts for carbon dioxide reduction to methanol, we have grown for the first time cm(3)-size single crystals of trigonal Ga3Ni2. We report in detail on the synthesis and Czochralski growth from high-temperature solution using Ga as native solvent. Inclusion formation of Ga-rich fluid proved to be the most severe problem that was minimized by using an extremely low pulling rate down to 25 mu m/h. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Geosciences > Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Subjects: 500 Science > 550 Earth sciences and geology
• ISSN: 0022-0248
• Language: English