稀土晶体研究进展

Recent Advances in Rare Earth Crystals

稀土晶体是指稀土元素可以完整占据结晶学结构中某一格点的晶体,具有独特的磁学和光学特性,被广泛地应用于光纤通讯、航空航天、国防安全等领域。大尺寸高品质稀土晶体的制备是实现稀土高值化利用的有效途径之一。从典型稀土晶体的组成和结构出发,系统论述了稀土晶体在超磁致伸缩、磁光、激光、闪烁、超导等方面的研究进展及生长技术瓶颈;利用结晶生长的化学键合理论定量描述了稀土晶体的生长过程,揭示了生长界面处各向异性化学键合结构与各向同性传质过程的协同控制有利于实现大尺寸高品质稀土晶体生长;通过分析现有稀土晶体发展中面临的挑战和机遇,展望了稀土晶体未来发展的若干趋势。

Rare earth crystal （RE crystal） refers to a certain crystal in which the RE elements can occupy a parti- cular lattice site in the crystallographic structure. RE crystals exhibit stable physical and chemical properties, and unique magnetic and optical properties, which are widely used in optical communications, aerospace, national de- fense and other fields. Preparation of large-size and high-quality RE crystals is the key in the development of high-value utilization of rare earth elements. Starting from the typical structures and characteristics, recent advances in RE crystals are reviewed in the aspects of giant magnetostriction, magneto optics, laser, scintillation and supercon- ductivity. the basis of the chemical bonding theory of single crystal growth, the growth mechanism is discussed, which provides an effective way for the growth of large-size and high-quality RE crystals. Furthermore, prospects for the future development of RE crystals are presented.