Single crystal growth conditions and characterization of some rare-earth vanadates

The crystal growth conditions, solubility curves, supercooling and relative supersaturation data measured by the thermogravimetric method for PrVO4 and EuVO4 grown from PbO · V2O5 flux are presented.The influence of Yb and Gd as well as Mo, Fe, Cr, and Ti dopants on crystal growth conditions and crystal structure have been investigated. It was found that when the amount of dopant does not exceed 1% of the basic RE ion, the crystallisation temperature changes are very small, but the changes in crystal size are significant.The structure of the valence bands of PrVO4 and EuVO4 has been investigated by X-ray emission spectroscopy. The vanadium Kβ and Lγ lines of RE (rare earth) ions were analysed.