A novel disordered crystal Yb:YSr ₃ (PO ₄ ) ₃ is grown by the Czochralski method. Results indicate that it can be a promising candidate for ultrashort pulse generation and tunable broadband solid-state lasers.

Nd-doped YAl₃(BO₃)₄ (NYAB) is a multifunctional crystal material with laser, nonlinear optical, and piezoelectric performances. In this study, the dielectric, elastic, and piezoelectric properties of an 11.8 mol% doped NYAB crystal were evaluated using impedance and ultrasonic pulse-echo methods. The NYAB crystal exhibited electro-elastic properties comparable to those of α-SiO₂, GaPO₄, and AlPO₄ crystals. In addition, the structural distortions and dipole moment of the NYAB crystal were studied, where the AlO₆ octahedron exhibited a relatively larger polarization and contributed to the piezoelectric properties of the NYAB crystal. Moreover, the temperature-dependent behaviors of the NYAB crystal were investigated. The NYAB crystal exhibited a high mechanical quality factor, Q_m, (12 000 at 25 °C and 4400 at 450 °C), low dielectric loss (0.3% at 25 °C and 0.5% at 450 °C), and good temperature stability of electro-elastic properties (Ts₁₁ ¹ = 6.9 ppm °C⁻¹; Td₁₄ ¹ = 1.7 ppm °C⁻¹) in the temperature range of 25–450 °C.

The bismuth layer-structured ferroelectrics (BLSFs) materials have potential for high-temperature piezoelectric applications. Among these piezoelectric materials, the CaBi₄Ti₄O₁₅ (CBT) piezoelectric ceramic with a high decomposition temperature of about 1250 °C attracts a lot of attention. Achieving a CBT single crystal is a significant way to improve its piezoelectric properties. For this purpose, the flux system for growing CBT crystal was explored in this study. The optimum flux composition ratio was found to be PbO:B₂O₃:CBT = 3:3:1 in mol%, where the PbO–B₂O₃ mixtures were used as a flux system. Millimeter size flake-shaped CBT crystals were obtained using the spontaneous growth process for the first time. The relationship between the crystal structure and flake growth habit was analyzed. In addition, the bandgap was evaluated by the combination of transmittance spectrum and first-principle calculations. Besides, the piezoelectric property was predicted from the perspective of polyhedral distortion, which indicated the potential of CBT crystal for piezoelectric applications.

A high-quality crystalline α-Bi₂B₈O₁₅ crystal is grown by the Kyropoulos method that might have potential for opto-electric applications.

Large size and high quality single crystals are the prerequisite to fully evaluate their physical properties and potential technical applications. Herein, centimeter-sized KCsMoP₂O₉ (KCMP) crystals were successfully grown using the Kyropoulos method. The value of the full width at half maximum (36′′) indicated that the grown KCMP crystals were of high quality. The type of phase transition for KCMP crystals was found to be incommensurate to prototypic transition by in situ X-ray diffraction, and the phase transition mechanism was studied using a rigid unit mode approach. In addition, the linear and nonlinear optical properties of KCMP crystals were studied, and an efficient 515 nm second harmonic laser was successfully achieved in nonbirefringent-matched KCMP crystals using the emerging additional periodic phase technology.