Growth and Spectroscopic and Magnetic Properties of TbCr3(BO3)4 Crystals

— We have studied and optimized conditions for spontaneous flux growth of TbCr 3 (BO 3 ) 4 crystals. Phase relations in the pseudoternary system TbCr 3 (BO 3 ) 4 –K 2 Mo 3 O 10 –B 2 O 3 have been studied in the temperature range 900–1130°C and the single-phase terbium chromium borate crystallization field has been mapped out. It has been shown that increasing the TbCr 3 (BO 3 ) 4 content of the starting high-temperature solution leads to a rhombohedral-to-monoclinic phase transition. Using K 2 Mo 3 O 10 -based high-temperature solutions, we have grown single-phase TbCr 3 (BO 3 ) 4 single crystals or crystals in which the rhombohedral phase (sp. gr. R 32) significantly prevails over the monoclinic phase (sp. gr. C 2/ c ). The grown crystals have been characterized by X-ray diffraction techniques, IR spectroscopy, and magnetic measurements.