Synthesis and Growth of Rare Earth Borates NaSrR(BO3)2 (R = Ho–Lu, Y, Sc)

NaSrR­(BO3)2 (R = Ho–Lu, Y, Sc) compounds were obtained for the first time. Their structures exhibit disordered positions of Sr2+ and Na+ atoms while RO6 polyhedra are connected through the BO3 groups. Large distances between R atoms and high transparency in the range of 250–900 nm make them promising for phosphor applications. A pathway to obtain single crystals was shown by growing NaSrY­(BO3)2 and NaSrYb­(BO3)2 by the top seeded solution growth method with Na2O-B2O3-NaF flux.