Single crystal growth from light, volatile and reactive materials using lithium and calcium flux

We present a method for the solution growth of single crystals from reactive Li and Ca melts and its application to the synthesis of several, representative compounds. Among these, single crystalline LiN, Li(Li)N with = {Mn, Fe, Co}, LiCaN, LiC, LiRh and LiIr from Li-rich flux, as well as CaN, CaNi, CaNi, YbNi, YNi and LaNi from Ca-rich flux could be obtained. Special emphasize is given on the growth of nitrides using commercially available LiN and CaN powders as the nitrogen source instead of N gas.