Floating zone growth of {\alpha}-Na$_{0.90}$MnO$_2$ single crystals
  Single crystal growth of {\alpha}-Na$_x$MnO$_2$ (x = 0.90) is reported via the floating zone technique. The conditions required for stable growth and intergrowth-free crystals are described along with the results of trials under alternate growth atmospheres. Chemical and structural characterizations of the resulting {\alpha}-Na$_{0.90}$MnO$_2$ crystals are performed using ICP-AES, NMR, XANES, XPS, and neutron diffraction measurements. As a layered transition metal oxide with large ionic mobility and strong correlation effects, {\alpha}-Na$_x$MnO$_2$ is of interest to many communities, and the implications of large volume, high purity, single crystal growth are discussed. 
Rebecca Dally, Rapha\"ele J. Cl\'ement, Robin Chisnell, Stephanie   Taylor, Megan Butala, Vicky Doan-Nguyen, Mahalingam Bala...
cond-mat.str-el