Single-Crystal Growth of Perovskite-Type La1-xSrxMO3 (M=Fe, Co) Solid Solutions

Single crystals of the perovskite-type solid solutions La1-x Sr x FeO3 with x=0.0, 0.1, 0.25 and 0.4 and La1-x Sr x CoO3 with x=0.0, 0.02 and 0.1 were grown by the floating-zone method using an Xe arc-lamp imaging furnace. Under the optimum conditions, single crystals about 5 mm in diameter and 40 mm in length were obtained. High-power X-ray diffraction analysis, optical microscopy and SEM-XMA showed the crystals to consist of a single phase and the distribution of the metal elements to be uniform. Preparation of raw material with precise composition was crucial for the synthesis of the single crystals. In the case of La1-x Sr x CoO3 with x=0.2 and 0.3, CoO and a K2NiF4-type (La1-y Sr y )2CoO4 phase were observed in the perovskite-type solid solutions.