Research Laboratory on Advanced Crystal Engineering,Yoshikawa Laboratory（IMR ＆ NICHe）

So far, the majority of the functional single crystalline materials is prepared as bulk crystals produced by the Czochralski or Bridgeman methods followed by extensive machining process such as cutting, slicing, polishing and so on. However, as far as we are using the present method, the process losses are not negligible, which is an acute problem because cost of materials becomes higher and higher. Of course, iifｆ the patterning is required, there is no way to avoid it. However, if it is not the case, we would like to propose the way to reduce the loss. One of the candidates is “shaped crystal growth”. As a recognized shaped crystal growth technology, there is Edge-defined Film-fed Growth (EFG) method. In the market, Sapphire single crystals shaped as plates, rods, fibers and even domes and screw bolts are produced using this method. We are intensive studying “micro-pulling -down method (Fig.1)”, which is one of the branches of EFG method. In order to contribute for reducing the possible losses, we are working for the further technology development, such as thin fiber growth, automation of this method and so on.