摘要 |
The present invention is directed to lanthanide vanadate crystals having the formula LnVO<SUB>4</SUB>, wherein Ln is selected from La, Nd, Ce, Pr, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Y, and combinations of at least two thereof, made by a hydrothermal method for a wide variety of end-use applications. The present method requires reacting a source of Ln<SUP>3+</SUP> ions and a source of VO<SUB>4</SUB><SUP>3+</SUP> ions, wherein Ln is selected from the group consisting of La, Nd, Ce, Pr, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Y and combinations of at least two thereof, in an aqueous solution at a temperature of from about 350° C. to about 600° C. and at a pressure of from about 8 kpsi to about 40 kpsi, the aqueous solution comprising hydroxide ions at a concentration of from about 0.01 to about 5 molarity. Specifically, when made by the present hydrothermal method, single crystals of sufficient size for use in a variety of optical applications are readily formed.
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