Gallium Orthophosphate - GaPO₄ Benefits

High piezoelectric sensitivity

Even at room temperature, GaPO₄ has twice the sensitivity of quartz. For thickness shear cuts it is even four times higher.

High thermal stability

Although GaPO₄ is a quartz homeotypic crystal, there exists no a-b phase transition. Quartz loses its piezoelectric properties due to this phase transition at 573 °C, whereas GaPO₄ does not change its high sensitivity up to temperatures above 700 °C.

No outgassing

Hydrothermally grown crystals show a high homogeneity and due the strong chemical bond of the oxygen atoms to the phosphorus atoms in the PO4 tetrahedron, which is much stronger than the bond between e.g. the relatively large Nb atoms and O in lithiumniobate, no outgassing has been observed in GaPO₄.

No pyroelectricity

Unlike other materials often used for high temperature applications (LiNbO3, LiTaO3, tourmaline), changes in GaPO₄ do not cause interference to the sensor signals.

No ferroelectricity

No spontaneous polarisation induced due to an electric field.

No stress induced twinning

No decrease of the sensitivity due to stress induced twinning. GaPO₄ stays stable up to highest temperatures.

Less damping in fluids

Less damping of GaPO₄ in fluids guarantees a higher sensitivity even at high temperatures.

Lower temperature dependence

Ferroelectric materials like LiNbO3 or LiTaO3 show a strong temperature drift of their resonant frequency. GaPO₄ offers temperature compensated cuts for any operating temperature you need, with a lower temperature dependence than quartz.

Lower angular sensitivity

The resonant frequency of GaPO₄ is less sensitive to the cut angle. For temperature compensation singly rotated Y cuts are being used.

Higher electromechanical coupling

Twice the coupling as quartz and about the same as langasite. This makes GaPO₄ a very suitable material for VCXOs and SAW filters.

Larger bandwidths

Because of the larger bandwidth of GaPO₄, more information can be transmitted.

Larger pulling range

With a GaPO₄ resonator, you can vary the resonant frequency within a wider range.

Lower insertion losses

The damping of surface acoustic waves in GaPO₄ filters is much lower compared to other materials.

Lower SAW velocity

The lower SAW velocity of GaPO₄ allows smaller SAW devices.