New Insights into Optical Crystals: From Fundamentals to Materials Performance

A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials for Energy Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 September 2025 | Viewed by 699

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Crystal Materials, Institute of Functional Crystal, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China
Interests: optical crystals; optoelectronic functional crystal materials; large scale crystal growth; synthesis methods

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Guest Editor
1. Department of Optical Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
2. Quantum Photonic Science Research Center and RINS, Department of Physics, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
Interests: metamaterials; spin-photonic crystals; magneto-optical properties
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The aim of this Special Issue is to promote a comprehensive understanding of optical crystals, spanning from fundamental principles to in-depth studies of material characteristics.

Optical crystals, as an important class of functional materials, have wide applications in fields such as optical communication, optoelectronics, and laser technology. This Special Issue will encompass various themes related to optical crystals, including material design, synthesis methods of novel optical crystal materials, crystal growth, optical properties, as well as the relationship between the crystal structure and its properties, alongside their potential applications. Researchers can explore new frontiers and trends in optical crystals through a combination of experimental and theoretical simulations, providing comprehensive and in-depth insights and guidance for the development of the field of optical crystals.

Scientists and engineers working with optical crystals are welcomed to contribute to this issue. 

Dr. Conggang Li
Prof. Dr. Youngpak Lee
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • material design
  • optical crystals
  • synthesis methods
  • crystal growth
  • optical properties
  • structure–properties relationship

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

11 pages, 2875 KiB  
Article
Tb3+-Doped LGS Crystals: Crystal Growth and Electro-Elastic Features
by Nianlong Zhang, Jipeng Wu, Hengyuan Zhang, Feifei Chen, Fapeng Yu, Li Sun and Xian Zhao
Crystals 2025, 15(3), 269; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15030269 - 13 Mar 2025
Viewed by 341
Abstract
Piezoelectric materials have garnered significant attention due to their diverse applications in technologies such as sensors, actuators, and energy-harvesting systems. This study focuses on the growth and characterization of Tb3+-doped La3Ga5SiO14 (LGS) crystals. A novel 10% [...] Read more.
Piezoelectric materials have garnered significant attention due to their diverse applications in technologies such as sensors, actuators, and energy-harvesting systems. This study focuses on the growth and characterization of Tb3+-doped La3Ga5SiO14 (LGS) crystals. A novel 10% Tb3+-doped single LGS crystal was successfully grown using the Czochralski method. The crystal structure and fluorescence properties were determined, and the electro-elastic properties were evaluated by the impedance method, which assessed dielectric, piezoelectric, and elastic constants. The Tb3+-doped crystal was observed to crystallize in the trigonal system, with the concentration of the Tb3+ ion in the crystal determined to be 2.50 wt%. The piezoelectric coefficients were measured as d11 = 5.41 pC/N and d14 = −5.52 pC/N, and the dielectric constants were found to be 19.60 and 52.75, respectively. The temperature-dependent behavior of Tb:LGS crystals was investigated, particularly concerning their elastic constants, demonstrating favorable thermal stability. This study provides valuable insights into the relationship between the crystals’ structural characteristics and performance. Additionally, the fluorescence properties were measured; a long lifetime (τ = 1.655 ms) indicated the potential applications of Tb:LGS crystals in laser technology. Full article
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