PREPARATION OF YCR2SI2 SINGLE-CRYSTALS FROM MOLTEN LEAD

The single crystals of YCr2Si2 (tetragonal system) were prepared by the high temperature lead solution method using yttrium, chromium and silicon powders as starting materials in an argon atmosphere. The synthetic conditions for relatively large single crystals were established. The optimum conditions for the growth of YCr2Si2 single crystals were ; atomic ratios of starting materials Si/Cr=1.0, Y/Cr=5.0 and Pb/Cr=20.08, soaking temperature 1400-degrees-C, soaking time 10 h and cooling rate of 50-degrees-C/h. single crystals of YCr2Si2, having silver-grey and metallic luster, were obtained in the form of thin plate shape with well-developed {001} faces. The largest crystals have maximum dimensions of about 0.02 mm x 3.0 mm x 3.0 mm. The results of chemical analysis, unit cell dimensions, and density (d(m)) are as follows : Y1.1Cr2Si2.2, a=3. 9197(2) angstrom, c=10.6936(4), V=164. 3(1) A3, d(m)=5.30(3) g.cm-3.