Investigations into the Metallic Impurity Problems Impacting the Growth of Synthetic Single Quartz Crystals and Defects

Synthetic Single Quartz Crystals and Defects

Abstract

The Silicon dioxide exists in both crystalline and glassy forms. The most common crystalline form of silicon dioxide is that of α-quartz. Synthetic quartz crystals, free of twinning and other imperfections, are used extensively as timing control and piezoelectric devices in electronic applications. The quality of the crystals is being determined and the darkening formed by X-irradiation has been implemented to scrutinize the distribution of impurities in the quartz. Hence, the analysis of the impurity content as aluminum of these crystals grown in sodium carbonate solution was performed employing flame photometric emission. Colored crystals have been produced from aqueous solutions of potassium carbonate under laboratory conditions and using a steel autoclave. The seeds were slices cut parallel to the planes (0001). The color of the quartz is caused by defective color centers produced by the impurity of aluminum and irradiation. This may happen by trivalent aluminum ion replacing tetravalent silicon ion. This replacement occurs with an alkali element (monovalent) such as sodium or lithium ions for electrical balance. As a result, this paper has successfully developed a method for the growth of large crystals of synthetic quartz using silica-rich rocks.