Nd+3 doped lead germanate — a good candidate for pyroelectric detector

Pure lead germanate (LG), 0.1 wt% Nd+3 doped (LG.1Nd+3) and 0.2wt% Nd+3 doped (LG.2Nd+3) lead germanate single crystals were grown by controlled cooling of melt. Room temperature pyroelectric coefficient p(T) was found to increase with doping. In LG.1Nd+3 doping enhances p(T) and figure of merit and there by increases the applicability of lead germanate as a pyroelectric detector.