Single-Crystal Growth of the Ternary BaFe2As2 Phase Using the Vertical Bridgman Technique

Ternary Ba-Fe-As system has been studied to determine a primary solidification field of the BaFe2As2 phase. We found that the BaFe2As2 phase most likely melts congruently and primarily solidifies either in the FeAs excess or BaxAs100-x excess liquid. Knowing the primary solidification field, we have performed the vertical Bridgman growth using the starting liquid composition of Ba(15)Fe(42.5)AS(42.5) Large single crystals of the typical size 10 x 4 x 2 mm(3) were obtained and their quality was confirmed by X-ray Laue and neutron diffraction. (c) 2009 The Japan Society of Applied Physics