Physical characterizations of α-GaPO4 single crystals grown by the flux method

Hexagonal gallium orthophosphate crystals have been obtained by spontaneous nucleation using the slow cooling method from X₂Mo₃O₁₀ fluxes with X=Li, K. Infrared transmission measurements have revealed samples without significant hydroxyl groups and thermal analyses have pointed out the total reversibility state of the phase transition α-quartz GaPO₄ harr β-cristobalite GaPO₄. The first measurement of several elastic constants made on α-GaPO₄ material grown with the flux technique, using plates of simple orientations, was undertaken. The values found for these constants were slightly higher to those measured on hydro-thermally grown GaPO₄ crystals.