Flux Growth and Crystal Structure Refinement of Calcite Type Borate GaBO3

Abstract

A single crystal of gallium borate, GaBO3, 4 × 4 × 0.2 mm3 in size has been grown by spontaneous crystallization with a molten flux based on a Bi2O3-3B2O3 solvent. From single crystal X-ray diffraction measurement, GaBO3 was found to crystallize in the trigonal calcite type, space group R-3c, with cell dimensions a = 4.56590(10) and c = 14.1764(4) Å, Z = 6. Layers of distorted [GaO6] octahedra are interleaved by layers of triangular planar [BO3] unites. The transmission spectrum on a single crystal indicated that the band gap of GaBO3 is 3.62 eV