Crystal growth and characterization of thulium calcium oxyborate high-temperature piezoelectric crystals

New rare-earth calcium oxyborate crystals TmCa4O(BO3)(3) (TmCOB) were grown by using the Czochralski pulling method, and the mechanical and thermal properties were investigated. In addition, the dielectric, elastic and piezoelectric performance was evaluated by impedance measurement, where the piezoelectric charge coefficients were determined to be on the order of d(11) = 1.7, d(12) = 3.8, d(13) = -4.2, d(15) = -0.92, d(24) = 4.9, d(26) = 7.8, d(31) = -0.75, d(32) = -2.4, d(33) = 2.2 and d(35) = -5.2 pC N-1. The temperature-dependent electrical resistivity and electro-elastic properties were studied from room temperature to 900 degrees C, where a high electrical resistivity of similar to 6 x 10(7) Omega cm and a low dielectric loss of similar to 21% were achieved at 900 degrees C, with high thermal stability of electromechanical coupling factors and piezoelectric coefficients over the temperature range of 20-900 degrees C. All of these properties demonstrate that TmCOB crystals are an attractive candidate for high-temperature sensor fabrications.