Flux growth at ambient pressure of millimeter-sized single crystals of LaFeAsO, LaFeAsO1−xFx, and LaFe1−xCoxAsO

Abstract

Millimeter-sized single crystals of LaFeAsO, LaFeAsO1−xFx, and LaFe1−xCoxAsO were grown in NaAs flux at ambient pressure. The detailed growth procedure and crystal characterizations are reported. The as-grown crystals have typical dimensions of 3×4×0.05–0.3 mm3 with the crystallographic c-axis perpendicular to the plane of the platelike single crystals. Various characterizations confirmed the high quality of our LaFeAsO crystals. Co and F were introduced into the lattice leading to superconducting LaFe1−xCoxAsO and LaFeAsO1−xFx single crystals, respectively. This growth protocol is expected to be broadly applicable to grow other RMAsO (R=rare earth, M=transition metal) compounds.