Characterization of dislocations and sub-grain boundaries in mixed rare earth orthovanadate of Yb:YxLu1−xVO4

Mixed crystal of Yb:YxLu1-xVO4 was grown by Czochralski method. Defects of dislocations and sub-grain boundaries in Yb:Y0.71Lu0.29VO4 single crystal were studied by using chemical etching and synchrotron X-ray topographic methods. Some of the three intersecting boundaries were revealed by chemical etching method in Yb:Y0.71Lu0.29VO4 crystal. The generalized Read-Shockley formula for intersecting boundaries was introduced to verify the one-to-one correspondence between etching pits along these sub-boundaries and edge dislocations with Burgers vectors of (100). Synchrotron X-ray topographic confirmed that the dominating imperfections in the studied Yb:Y0.71Lu0.29VO4 single crystal are a variously developed block structure and sub-grain boundaries. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.