Spectroscopic and thermal studies of γ-glycine crystal grown from potassium bromide for optoelectronic applications

Single crystals of an organic nonlinear optical material γ-glycine have been synthesized by slow evaporation technique from aqueous solutions of α-glycine and potassium bromide at room temperature. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the growth of γ phase of glycine. The powder X-ray diffraction of the grown crystal was recorded and indexed. Functional groups present in the sample were identified by FTIR spectral analysis. The optical absorption studies show that the UV cut-off wavelength of γ-glycine is at 238 nm and has a wide transparency window. The thermal characteristics of the grown crystal were determined by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), which show the thermal stability of the grown crystals. The powder second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency of γ-glycine crystals was measured by Kurtz and Perry powder technique using Nd:YAG laser and it was found to be 2.56 times that of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) crystals.     

Growth and characterization of naphthalene single crystals grown by modified vertical Bridgman method

The large size 20 mm diameter naphthalene single crystals were grown by modified vertical Bridgman method. The optical quality of the grown crystal was analyzed by photoluminescence and ultraviolet visible absorption spectral measurements. Photoluminescence spectrum indicated violet emission at 410 nm. The UV–vis absorption spectrum shows the maximum at 219.32 nm. The microhardness measurements and differential thermal analysis performed to analyze the mechanical and thermal stability of the as grown crystals. The dielectric measurements were carried out at five frequencies, viz., 100 Hz, 1 kHz, 10 kHz, 100 kHz and 1 MHz and at various temperatures, ranging from 308 K to 348 K indicate an increase of the dielectric parameters with the increase of temperature at all the five frequencies. The conductivity of the material is understood to be more of electronic in nature. Also, the increase in the dielectric parameters with that of temperature is due to the temperature variation of electronic polarizability.     

Antiferromagnetic resonance in quasi-one-dimensional ferromagnet γ-p-NPNN

The low frequency (∼300 MHz) and low-temperature (0.4 K) ESR were performed in the γ-phase of p-NPNN, which is considered to be as a quasi-one-dimensional ferromagnet above the antiferromagnetic ordering temperature (0.65 K without a static magnetic field). Below 0.6 K, we succeeded in observing the antiferromagnetic resonance (AFMR) for the first time. The frequency–field relation is well reproduced by the two-sublattice model with orthorhombic anisotropy. In addition, we measured magnetic torque using small single crystal, which has the dimension of 0.25 × 0.10 × 0.10 mm³. A spin–flop transition and AF-paramagnetic (AF-P) transition are observed at 470 and 2100 G at 0.4 K, respectively. Both AFMR and magnetic torque measurements indicate that the spin-easy axis is almost parallel to the direction to phenyl ring from the ONCNO fragments.     

Synthesis,growth, and characterization of a new NLO material 3-(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-(pyridin-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one

3-(2,3-Dimethoxyphenyl)-1-(pyridin-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one (DMPP) a potential second harmonic generating (SHG) has been synthesized and grown as a single crystal by the slow evaporation technique at ambient temperature. The structure determination of the grown crystal was done by single crystal X-ray diffraction study. DMPP crystallizes with orthorhombic system with cell parameters a = 20.3106(8) Å, b = 4.9574(2) Å, c = 13.4863(5) Å, α = 90°, β = 90°, γ = 90° and space group Pca2₁. The crystals were characterized by FT-IR, thermal analysis, UV–vis–NIR spectroscopy and SHG measurements. Various functional groups present in DMPP were ascertained by FTIR analysis. DMPP is thermally stable up to 80 °C and optically transparent in the visible region. The crystal exhibits SHG efficiency comparable to that of KDP.     

Optical,piezoelectric and mechanical properties of xylenol orange doped ADP single crystals for NLO applications

Single crystals of pure and xylenol orange (XO; C₃₁H₃₂N₂O₁₃S) dye doped (0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 mol%) ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP; NH₄H₂PO₄) were grown by slow evaporation method with the vision to improve the properties of pure ammonium dihydrogen phosphate crystal. The theoretical morphology of the grown crystals was drawn using Bravais–Friedel–Donnay–Harker (BFDH) law. The selective nature of xylenol orange dye to selectively stain the particular growth sectors of ADP crystal was studied. The structural analysis of as grown crystals was carried out using powder XRD study. The identification of the functional groups present in the ADP material was done using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The linear optical study on pure and dye doped crystals was carried out using UV–vis–NIR spectroscopy. The optical band gap, extinction coefficient, refractive index and optical conductivity were calculated using the transmittance spectra for all the samples. In photoluminescence studies, the blue emission intensity got quenched and an orange emission at 597 nm was seen as a result of XO doping. The thermal stability and decomposition temperature of ADP crystal were found to decrease as an effect of dye doping. The piezoelectric charge coefficient, SHG conversion efficiency, mechanical strength and wettability were also enhanced as a result of XO dye doping.     

Synthesis, growth and characterization of bis (glycine) lithium molybdate—A semi-organic NLO material

Single crystals of bis (glycine) lithium molybdate [BGLM] with dimensions 20 mm × 10 mm × 5 mm were grown by slow evaporation technique. The grown crystals were subjected to powder X-ray diffraction studies. Functional groups of the crystallized molecules were confirmed by FTIR analyses. Transmission range of the crystal was determined by UV–vis–NIR spectra. Vickers microhardness test was performed on the prominent plane (0 1 1) of the grown crystal. The NLO property of the crystal was confirmed by Kurtz SHG test and compared with NLO efficiency of KDP crystal.     

Semiorganic nonlinear optical l-lysine sulphate growth and characterization

l-Lysine sulphate (LLS), a semiorganic nonlinear optical (NLO) material useful for frequency doubling in the IR region, has been synthesized. The solubility studies have been carried out in the temperature range 30–50 °C. Single crystals have been grown by slow evaporation method from an aqueous acetone solution of l-lysine and sulphuric acid. The grown crystals were bulk, bright and transparent. These crystals were characterized by X-ray and FTIR studies. Powder X-ray pattern indicates that LLS crystallizes in orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁ with four unit cells. FTIR spectral studies were performed for the conformation of the l-lysine molecule and hydrogen bonds. The optical transmission spectra of the grown crystal are tested by UV–vis spectrophotometer and found that the crystal was transparent over entire visible region. The second harmonic generation test of the LLS revealed the nonlinear nature of the crystal.     

Crystal structure of single crystals of nonlinear optical l-histidinium trichloroacetate

Single crystals of a new histidinium salt: l-histidinium trichloroacetate {abbreviated as LHTCA; [(C₃N₂H₄) CH₂CH (NH₃) (CO₂)]⁺ CCl₃COO⁻} were grown by slow evaporation of an aqueous solution at room temperature. The compound crystallizes in a non-centrosymmetric space group P2₁ of monoclinic system with cell parameters a = 5.4505(18) Å, b = 25.769(8) Å, c = 9.210(2) Å and β = 99.98(2)° with Z = 4. The structure has been refined to an R-value of 0.05 for 2539 observed reflections using three-dimensional X-ray diffraction data. The vibrational structure of the compound confirms the presence of various functional groups in the molecule. The UV–Vis–NIR spectrum shows a good transparency in the whole of the region from ultraviolet to near IR. The Kurtz–Perry powder SHG measurement confirms the frequency doubling of the crystal and its powder SHG efficiency was measured as d_eff = 0.33 d_eff (KDP).     

A new potassium rare earth oxyborate K2La2(BO3)2O

A series of potassium rare earth oxyborates, K₂RE₂(BO₃)₂O (RE = La, Nd, Sm and Eu), have been synthesized. Single crystal of the first member of the series, K₂La₂(BO₃)₂O, has been grown by the flux method. Its structure, determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction, shows that it belongs to the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/c with unit cell parameters of a = 11.422(2) Å, b = 6.6803(13) Å, c = 10.813(2) Å, β = 17.23(3)° and Z = 4. Optical transmission spectrum shows that the K₂La₂(BO₃)₂O crystal is highly transparent from 215 nm to 2750 nm.     

Crystal growth and characterization of γ-glycine grown from potassium fluoride for photonic applications

Single crystals of γ-glycine, an organic nonlinear optical material have been synthesized in the presence of potassium fluoride (KF) by slow evaporation technique at ambient temperature. The size of the grown crystal is up to the dimension of 12 mm×10 mm×8 mm. The γ-phase was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction, powder XRD and the FTIR analysis. Optical absorption spectrum reveals that the grown crystal has good optical transparency in the entire visible region with an energy band gap of 5.09 eV, which is an essential requirement for a nonlinear optical crystal. Thermal stability of the grown γ-glycine crystal was determined using the thermo gravimetric and differential thermal analyses. The NLO activity of γ-glycine was confirmed by the Kurtz powder technique using Nd:YAG laser and the grown crystal exhibits high relative conversion efficiency when compared to potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP).     

Fingerprint imaging by scanning electrochemical microscopy

An efficient strategy for visualizing human fingerprints on a poly(vinylidene difluoride) membrane (PVDF) by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) has been developed. Compared to a classical ink fingerprint image, here the ink is replaced by an aqueous solution of bovine serum albumin (BSA). After placing the “inked” finger on a PVDF membrane, the latent image is stained by silver nitrate and the fingerprint is imaged electrochemically using potassium hexachloroiridate (III) (K₃IrCl₆) as a redox mediator. SECM images with an area of 5 mm × 3 mm have been recorded with a high-resolution using a 25-μm-diameter Pt disk-shaped microelectrode. Pores in the skin (40–120 μm in diameter) and relative locations of ridges were clearly observed. The factors relevant to the quality of fingerprint images are discussed.     

Mineralization of aqueous phenolate solutions: A combination of irradiation treatment and wet oxidation

Wet oxidation (high-temperature, high-pressure oxidation of organic wastes in aqueous solution) and radiation technology were combined in γ-ray and electron beam induced oxidation of 4×10^?4–1×10^?2 mol dm^?3 Na-phenolate solutions in a wide O₂ concentration (1–20 bar pressure) and absorbed dose (0–50 kGy) range. Most experiments were made in stainless steel high pressure autoclave equipped with magnetic stirrer. The rate of oxidation was followed by chemical oxygen demand and total organic carbon content measurements. The rate was similar in γ-ray and pulsed electron beam irradiation and increased with O₂ concentration in the liquid.     

Microstructural and gas separation properties of CVD modified mesoporous γ-alumina membranes

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) was used to modify 4 nm pore, sol–gel derived, γ-alumina membranes supported on macroporous α-alumina. Aluminum oxide was deposited in the pores of the γ-alumina membrane by alternating additions of trimethylaluminum (TMA) and water vapor. By reducing the pore size, the permeance of non-condensable gasses was reduced much more than the permeance of condensable gasses due to capillary condensation or preference adsorption of water vapor. The modified membrane that exhibited the best separation properties had a water vapor permeance ranging from 1.5×10⁻⁶ to 3.0×10⁻⁷ mol/m² s Pa, an oxygen permeance ranging from 1.7×10⁻⁷ to 1.5×10⁻⁹ mol/m² s Pa, and a separation factor as high as 140 at room temperature. The microstructure of the pores contained some irregularities which were attributed to an atomic layer CVD (ALCVD) mechanism modified by homogeneous reactions. The effect of the modified ALCVD was higher permeances than would be expected. P-type zeolite membranes were also made and found to have similar separation properties to the more heavily modified γ-alumina membranes.     

Jahn–Teller phase transition in Cu0.50TiO(PO4): Powder structural characterization of the β-variety and thermal study

The thermal study of Cu_0.50TiO(PO₄), by X-ray diffraction and DSC, shows a phase transition α → β with a hysteresis (∼600 °C during heating; ∼300 °C during cooling). Single crystals have been obtained for the α-phase but the β-phase can only be stabilised at room temperature as a powder mixture with α. Structural characterization of the β-variety has been done with diffraction data (X-ray Cu Kα₁ and neutrons) using a powder rich in β-phase (α(20%) + β(80%)). A monoclinic cell (a = 7.1134(7) Å; b = 7.7282(7) Å; c = 7.3028(7) Å; β=119.30(1)°; V = 350.1(1) Å³) has been found for β-phase, space group P2₁/c. An “ab initio” structure determination has been done, and the Rietveld refinement leads to cR_wp = 0.150 and R_B = 0.041. The results from the X-ray data were confirmed by refinements from neutron data.Similarly to the α-phase, the structure of β-Cu_0.50TiO(PO₄) can be described as a TiOPO₄ framework constituted of chains of tilted corner-sharing [TiO₆] octahedra running parallel to the c axis and cross linked by [PO₄] tetrahedra. Ti atoms are displaced from the centres of the octahedral units, leading to long (2.27 Å) and short (1.73 Å) Ti–O(1) bonds. The [CuO₆] octahedra exhibit a typical Jahn–Teller distorted coordination with four short equatorial Cu–O bonds (2 × 1.93 Å and 2 × 2.06 Å), and two longer apical Cu–O bonds (2 × 2.33 Å). The two longer Cu–O bonds are almost parallel to the b axis.The transition from the α to the β-phase is characterized by a “rocking” of the Jahn–Teller elongation from the (a,c) plane to the b direction accompanied by a relatively strong expansion of the cell volume.     

Growth and characterization of 2-amino-4-picolinium 4-aminobenzoate single crystals

The organic material of 2-amino-4-picolinium 4-aminobenzoate (C₆H₉N₂⁺·C₇H₆NO₂^?) was synthesized and grown as single crystals at room temperature by slow evaporation solution growth technique in the constant temperature bath (±0.01 °C) using ethanol as solvent. The grown crystals were characterized by XRD and FT-IR spectral analyses. The melting point, density, UV–visible spectral studies were carried out for the grown crystals. The theoretical factor group analysis predicts 372 internal modes of vibration and optical modes in the grown title compound. The second harmonic generation (SHG) output of 2-amino-4-picolinium 4-aminobenzoate was recorded by Kurtz–Perry powder technique and it is found to be 355 mV at a given pulse energy of 1.45 mJ/s and for urea the SHG output was 525 mV. The dielectric behaviour of 2-amino-4-picolinium 4-aminobenzoate was investigated with different frequencies and temperatures.     

Infrared and Raman spectroscopic characterization of the hydrogen-bonding network in l-serine crystal

The IR spectra (4000–400 cm⁻¹) of neat and isotopically substituted (ND/OD ≤ 10% D and ≅30% D) polycrystalline l-serine (α-amino-β-hydroxypropionic acid; HO–CH₂–CH(NH₃)⁺–COO⁻) were recorded in the temperature range 300–10 K and assigned. The isotopic-doping/low-temperature methodology, which allows for decoupling of individual proton vibrational modes from the crystal bulk vibrations, was used for estimating the lengths and energies of the different H-bonds present in l-serine crystal. To this end, the frequency shifts observed in both the NH/OH stretching and out-of-plane bending spectral regions (relatively to reference values for these vibrations in non-hydrogen-bonded l-serine molecules) were used, together with previously developed empirical correlations between these spectral parameters and the H-bond properties. In addition, the room-temperature Raman spectrum (4000–150 cm⁻¹) of a single crystal of neat l-serine was also recorded and interpreted. A systematic comparison was made between the spectroscopic data obtained currently for l-serine and previously for dl-serine, revealing that the vibrational spectra of the two crystals reflect well the different characteristics of their hydrogen-bond networks, and also correlate accurately with the different susceptibility of the two crystals to pressure-induced strain.     

Impact of Fe3+ on UV absorption of K2Al2B2O7 crystals

K₂Al₂B₂O₇ (KABO) is a new nonlinear optical crystal capable of laser harmonic generation in the UV range. However, abnormal UV absorption prevents its application in effectively generating UV light with wavelength shorter than 300 nm. The transmittance spectra of the grown crystals show distinct absorption bands at 216 nm and 264 nm. It is observed that the UV absorption is strongly correlated with iron impurity at a parts per million (ppm) level. Furthermore, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of the absorbing crystals show a strong signal at g = 2.00 position corresponding to a Fe³⁺ center. A new crystal growth method which reduces the iron content has been proposed and results show that the new KABO crystal is free from the Fe³⁺ UV absorptions.     

Crystallisation of some mixed Na/V and K/V fluorides by solvothermal methods

Single crystals of several phases in the Na–V–(O)F and K–V–(O)F systems have been grown using a mild solvothermal route in water/ethylene glycol. At a temperature of 100 °C the V⁴⁺-containing oxyfluoride phases Na₄V₂O₂F₈ and K₂VOF₄ are prepared, exhibiting dimeric and chain-like vanadium oxyfluoride units, respectively. On raising the reaction temperature to 220 °C reduction to V³⁺ occurs, and three different two-dimensional sheet structures are crystallised, NaVF₄, KVF₄ and K₅V₃F₁₄. Precise crystal structures are reported for the latter two, which represent members of the Dion–Jacobson and Chiolite families, respectively.     

Damage effect of keV proton irradiation on aluminized Kapton film

Damage effects of proton irradiation on aluminized Kapton films were investigated through ground simulation experiments, in which the energy of protons was 90 keV and the flux was 5.0×10¹¹ cm⁻² s⁻¹. Changes in surface morphology, optical properties, microhardness and microstructure of Kapton/Al were analyzed. The experimental results show that proton irradiation results in the increase of surface roughness and microhardness, and the degradation of the reflective property in the 500–1200 nm range. Raman spectra and XPS analysis demonstrate that changes in chemical structure occurred during irradiation, including the bond breaking of the part of the carbonyl and aromatic ether, ring opening reaction of cyclic imide, and the formation of some new bonds and structure.     

Growth and characterization of a new nonlinear optical crystal: [(18C6)Li][Cd(SCN)3]

Single crystals of a new nonlinear optical compound [(18C6)Li][Cd(SCN)₃][(18-crown-6-ether) lithium(I) trithiocyanate cadmium(II), CLTC], with dimension of 22 mm × 8 mm × 2 mm, were grown from aqueous solutions for the first time via evaporation technique. Solubility of CLTC has been determined for various temperatures. The grown crystals were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) study, powder X-ray diffraction, FT-IR techniques, UV–vis, elemental analysis, EDS analyses and SHG test. Single crystal XRD study has been carried out to identify the lattice parameters and CLTC crystallizes in orthorhombic system. FT-IR studies confirm the functional groups present in the grown crystal. The mechanical properties of the grown crystals have been studied using Vickers microhardness tester. The optical second harmonic generation effect has been measured by using the Kurtz powder technique to be 2 times as large as that of KDP (KH₂PO₄) crystal. From the optical spectrum, CLTC has good optical transmission in the entire visible region, which is an essential requirement for a nonlinear crystal.