Studies on the optical and mechanical properties of organic nonlinear optical 1-(4-fluorostyryl)-4-nitrostilbene (FNS) single crystal

A new organic nonlinear optical material 1-(4-fluorostyryl)-4-nitrostilbene (FNS) has been synthesized and single crystals of FNS were grown using solvent evaporation solution growth technique (SESGT) by 2-butanon solvent. Single crystal x-ray diffraction analysis reveals the unit cell parameters of the grown crystal are a = 9.494(4) Å, b = 9.864(2) Å, c = 19.501(7) Å and it belongs to monoclinic system with noncentrosymmetric space group. Optical transmittance of the grown crystal has been studied by UV-Vis-NIR spectrum. The optical properties of FNS have been studied by means of optical transmittance measurements in the wavelength range of 190–1100 nm The optical constants were calculated from the optical transmittance (T) data such as refractive index (n), extinction coefficient (k) and reflectance (R). The optical band gap (E_g) of FNS is 3.27 eV with direct transition. The complex dielectric (?) constant of the grown FNS crystal was determined. The second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency of the grown FNS crystal has been studied by using Kurtz-Perry powder technique and it shows 12 times relatively greater than KDP.     

Growth,structure and optical properties of an efficient NLO crystal-aqua maleatocopper(II)

A promising non-linear optical (NLO) crystal, aqua maleatocopper(II) (CuC₄H₂O₄·H₂O), was grown at room temperature by the controlled ionic diffusion technique. Fourier transform infrared spectrum could identify the various functional groups in the crystal. Structural analysis using single crystal XRD revealed that the compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system with space group P2₁ and unit cell parameters a = 7.7277(5) Å, b = 5.2967(3) Å, c = 7.7179(4) Å, α = γ = 109.170(5)°, β = 111.995(2)°. The thermal stability and decomposition pattern of the material were explored using thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The optical band gap energy of the material was estimated as 2.2 eV from the diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The Kurtz and Perry powder technique established the crystal to be an efficient non-linear optical (NLO) material.     

Synthesis, growth, and characterization of a non-linear optical crystal-glycine lithium chloride

A new non-linear optical material, glycine lithium chloride, was synthesized and single crystals were grown by slow evaporation solution growth technique at constant temperature from its aqueous solution. Transparent and well-crystallized hexagonal prisms were obtained by controlled evaporation at a constant temperature of 45 °C. The grown crystals were characterized by X-ray diffraction methods, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, and optical absorption spectrum. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the crystal lattice of glycine lithium chloride is hexagonal with unit cell a = b = 7.023 Å, c = 5.478 Å, α = β = 90°, γ = 120°, V = 234 Å³. The dielectric response of the crystal with varying frequencies was studied. The second harmonic generation efficiency of the crystal was studied and is found to be larger than KDP.     

Growth and characterization of a novel organic nonlinear optical material: l-alanine 2-furoic acid

l-alanine 2-furoic acid (LA2FA), a novel organic third order nonlinear optical material was grown by slow solvent evaporation technique at room temperature. The grown single crystals were characterized by XRD, spectral, thermal, optical, dielectric and third order nonlinear properties. LA2FA crystallizes into triclinic system with the space group P1. The cell parameters are found to be a = 3.97 Å, b = 7.09 Å, c = 10.69 Å, α = 73.61°, β = 83.57°, γ = 84.21° and V = 286 Å3. The modes of vibrations of different molecular groups present in LA2FA were identified by FTIR studies. The optical transparency of the grown crystals was investigated by UV–visible spectrum. The absorption spectrum reveals that the crystal has a high UV cut off of 245 nm and photonic band gap of 2.5 eV. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) study has been carried out to determine the surface morphology of the grown crystal. The thermal behavior of the crystal investigated using thermo gravimetric (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) indicates that the material does not decompose before melting. The third order NLO property was studied in detail by z-scan technique.     

Growth and characterization of new semi-organic l-proline strontium chloride monohydrate single crystals

The present communication deals with the synthesis, single crystal growth and characterization of a new nonlinear optical material l-proline strontium chloride monohydrate (l-PSCM). Single crystals have been grown using the slow solvent evaporation technique. Single crystal XRD analysis confirmed that the crystal belongs to the orthorhombic structure with lattice parameter a=6.6966(3) Å, b=12.4530(5) Å, c=15.2432(5) Å and space group P2₁2₁2₁. Presence of various functional groups in l-PSCM and protonation of the ions were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis. The melting point of the single crystal was found to be 126 °C using DSC. Ultraviolet-visible spectral analyses showed that the crystal has low UV cut-off at 226 nm combined with very good transparency of 90% in a wide range. The optical band gap was estimated to be 5.82 eV. Capacitance and dielectric-loss measurements were carried out at different temperatures in the frequency range 1 kHz-2 MHz. The dielectric constant and loss factor were found to be 21 and 0.03 at 1 kHz at room temperature, respectively. Microhardness mechanical studies show that hardness number (H_v) increases with load for l-PSCM single crystals the by Vickers microhardness method. Second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency was found to be 0.078 times the value of KDP.     

Structural phase transitions at high-temperature in double perovskite Sr2GdRuO6

The crystal structure evolution of the Sr₂GdRuO₆ complex perovskite at high-temperature has been investigated over a wide temperature range between 298 K≤T≤1273 K. Powder X-ray diffraction measurements at room temperature and Rietveld analysis show that this compounds crystallizes in a monoclinic perovskite-type structure with P2₁/n (#14) space group and the 1:1 ordered arrangement of Ru⁵⁺ and Gd³⁺ cations over the six-coordinate M sites, with lattice parameters a=5.81032(8) Å, b=5.82341(4) Å, c=8.21939(7) Å, V=278.11(6) Å³ and angle β=90.311(2)^o. The high-temperature analysis shows that this material suffers two-phase transitions. At 373 K it adopts a monoclinic perovskite structure with I2/m space group, and lattice parameters a=5.81383(2) Å, b=5.82526(4) Å, c=8.22486(1) Å, V=278.56(2) Å³ and angle β=90.28(2)^o. Above of 773 K, it suffers a phase transition from monoclinic I2/m to tetragonal I4/m, with lattice parameters a=5.84779(1) Å, c=8.27261(1) Å, V=282.89(5) Å³ and angle β=90.02(9)^o. The high-temperature phase transition from monoclinic I2/m to tetragonal I4/m is characterized by strongly anisotropic displacements of the anions.     

Synthesis,growth, structure,spectral, thermal and first-order molecular hyperpolarizability of benzophenone-2-furoyl hydrazone single crystal

Single crystals of benzophenone-2-furoyl hydrazone are grown by slow evaporation solution growth technique from ethanol at room temperature. It belongs to monoclinic system with the space group P2₁/c and the cell parameters are, a = 6.1631(3) Å, b = 13.1397(8) Å, c = 18.0030(11) Å and V = 1457.72(14) Å³. NMR spectral studies reveal the structure and powder XRD indicates the crystallinity of the specimen. The characteristic functional groups present in the molecule are confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The crystals are transparent in the visible region having a lower optical cut-off at ∼406 nm and the band gap energies are estimated by the application of Kubelka–Munk algorithm. Thermal analysis by TG/DTA indicates the stability of the material. The scanning electron microscopy studies reveal the surface morphology of the as-grown crystal. Theoretical calculations were performed using Hartree–Fock method with 6-31G(d,p) as the basis set for to derive the optimized geometry, dipole moment and first-order molecular hyperpolarizability (β) values.     

Crystal growth,structural and optical properties of an organic ion-complex crystal: 4-N,N-dimethylamino-4′-N′-methylstilbazolium iodide

4-N,N-dimethylamino-4′-N′-methylstilbazolium iodide (DMSI) compound was synthesized by Knoevenagel reaction method and the crystals were grown by solution growth method. From the single crystal X-ray diffraction study, it is confirmed that DMSI crystal belongs to monoclinic system. The bond-length alternation (BLA) of the DMSI molecule was found to be 0.11 Å, which is responsible for quadratic NLO response. The electronic transition properties and optical constants such as energy gap (E_g), linear refractive index (n₁) were determined using UV–visible and photoluminescence spectral studies. The second order nonlinear optical property of the crystal was examined using Kurtz–Perry powder test. Laser induced damage threshold on (0 0 1) plane of the optically polished crystal was found to be 1.24 GW/cm².     

Investigation of crystal structure and nonlinear optical properties of 2-methoxyanilinium nitrate

Single crystals of a new hybrid compound salt: 2-methoxyanilinium nitrate were prepared by slow evaporation at room temperature of diluted aqueous solutions containing 2-methoxyaniline with nitric acids. The compound crystallizes in a space group Pcab of orthorhombic system with cell parameters a = 8.8784 (6) Å, b = 10.6348 (7) Å, c = 18.3045 (7) Å, V = 1728.31 (17) ų at T = 100 K and Z = 8. The structure has been refined to an R-value of 0.044 for 1956 observed reflections using three-dimensional X-ray diffraction data. Third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility (χ^〈3〉) was measured by degenerate four wave mixing (DFWM) method at 532 nm. Third harmonic generation (THG) measurements at the 1064 nm were carried out for the 2-methoxyanilinium nitrate crystal with the following dimensions: 4 × 9 × 0.5 mm.     

Studies on amino acid picrates: Crystal growth,structure and characterization of a new nonlinear optical material l-isoleucinium picrate

A series of l-amino acids, isoleucine, valine, glutamine, methionine, arginine, cystine and aspargine are employed to form picrates with picric acid (1:1). A comparison of cell parameters reveals that expected picrates are formed only in the case of l-valine and l-isoleucine. l-Isoleucinium picrate (LIP), a new nonlinear optical material was grown from aqueous medium by the slow evaporation of equimolar mixture of l-isoleucine and picric acid. The structure of the grown crystal as determined by single crystal XRD diffraction analysis reveals that it belongs to the monoclinic system with space group P2₁ and the cell parameter values are, a = 9.970(3) Å; b = 6.425(2) Å; c = 12.871(4) Å; β = 109.54(3)°; V = 770.0(4) Å³; Z = 2. The presence of functional groups in the LIP is confirmed by FT-IR vibrational patterns and the good crystallinity indicated by powder X-ray diffraction method. The relative second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency measurements reveal that the LIP is a highly efficient nonlinear optical (NLO) material having an activity 16 times as that of the reference material potassium dihydrogen phosphate. The optical transparency has been studied using UV–vis spectrophotometer and the absorption is minimum in the visible region. Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses reveal the purity of the sample and no decomposition is observed up to the melting point.     

Growth and physical properties of an organic crystal for NLO applications: Guanidinium phenyl arsonate (GPA)

Single crystals of organic material guanidinium phenyl arsonate (GPA) of size 28 × 14 × 10 mm³ were grown from propanol–water mixed solvent by slow solvent evaporation technique. The crystal belongs to monoclinic system with noncentrosymmetric space group Cc. The lattice parameter values of GPA crystals are a = 18.453 Å, b = 7.609 Å, c = 12.592 Å and β = 121.856°. The grown crystal was subjected to X-ray diffraction (XRD) study to identify its morphology and structure. Chemical etching study using propanol–water as etchant reveals the mechanism of growth. The formation of synthesized compound was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy analysis. Optical transmittance and second harmonic generation (SHG) of the grown crystals were studied by UV–vis–NIR spectrum and Kurtz powder technique respectively. The transmittance of GPA has been used to calculate the refractive index ‘n’ and the extinction coefficient ‘k’. The laser induced surface damage threshold for the grown crystal was determined using Nd:YAG laser. The mechanical behavior of GPA was analyzed using Vickers microhardness test.     

Crystal structure,ionic conductivity and dielectric relaxation studies in the (C5H10N)2BiBr5 compound

The synthesis and crystal structure of the bis (3-dimethylammonium-1-propyne) pentabromobismuthate(III) salt are given in the present paper. After an X-ray investigation, it has been shown that the title compound crystallizes at 298 K in a centrosymmetric monoclinic system, in the space group C₂/c with the following lattice parameters a=12.9034(3) Å, b=19.4505(6) Å, c=8.5188(2) Å, β=102.449(2). Not only were the impedance spectroscopy measurements of (C₅H₁₀N)₂BiBr₅ carried out from 209 Hz to 5 MHz over the temperature range of 318 K–373 K, but also its ac conductivity evaluated. Besides, the dielectric relaxation was examined using the modulus formalism. Actually, the near values of activation energies obtained from the impedance and modulus spectra confirms that the transport is of an ion hopping mechanism, dominated by the motion of the H⁺ ions in the structure of the investigated material.     

Crystal structure of the quaternary compound CuTa2InTe4 from X-ray powder diffraction

The crystal structure of the new quaternary compound CuTa₂InTe₄ was studied using X-ray powder diffraction data. The powder pattern refined by the Rietveld method indicates that this material crystallizes in the tetragonal system with space group I-4¯2m (No. 121), Z=2, and unit cell parameters a=6.1963(2) Å, c=12.4164(4) Å, c/a=2.00 and V=476.72(3) Å³. The structural and instrumental refinement of 28 parameters led to R_p=10.4%, R_wp=11.1%, R_exp=6.8% and χ²=2.7 for 96 independent reflections.     

Studies on vibrational, dielectric, mechanical and thermal properties of organic nonlinear optical co-crystal: 2,6-diaminopyridinium-4-nitrophenolate-4-nitrophenol

This article presents the vibrational, dielectric, mechanical and thermal properties of 2,6-diaminopyridine-4-nitrophenolate-4-nitrophenol co-crystals (DAP:NP) grown by slow evaporation solution growth technique. It crystallizes in orthorhombic noncentrosymmetric space group Pna2₁ with cell dimension a=10.86 Å, b=12.00 Å and c=13.53 Å; α=β=γ=90° with V=1764 Å³. Functional groups present in the molecule have been identified from FTIR study. Dielectric constant (ε_r), dielectric loss (tanδ) and ac conductivity (σ_ac) behaviors of the crystals have been studied at different temperatures. Presence of piezoelectric resonance peaks at lower frequency in dielectric measurements may increase the electro-optic coefficient of the crystals. Mechanical strength and its parameters of the grown crystals have been determined by Vickers microhardness test. TG/DTA analysis shows the melting point of the material is 150 °C and it undergoes two stages of decomposition.     

Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of the new double perovskite Ca2CrSbO6

The title double perovskite has been synthesized by solid-state reaction in air. The crystal structure has been studied from powder X-ray diffraction data. Rietveld fits to the pattern show that this compound has a monoclinic symmetry [a=5.4932(3) Å, b=5.4081(3) Å, c=7.6901(5) Å, β=90.0022(1)°, at 300 K] defined in the space group P2₁/n, where the Cr and Sb cations are almost completely ordered in the B-sublattice of the perovskite structure. Magnetic susceptibility and magnetization measurements show that this compound behaves as a Curie-Weiss paramagnet at high temperatures with μ_eff=3.53(1) μ_B and θ_P=8 K, and exhibits a robust ferromagnetic component below the ordering temperature of T_C=13 K, with a saturation magnetization of 2.36 μ_B/f.u. at 5 K. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a ferromagnetic double perovskite containing a non-magnetic element, such as Sb, occupying one half of the B positions of the perovskite structure.     

Synthesis, growth and characterization of novel second harmonic nonlinear chalcone crystal

Nonlinear optical (NLO) materials are useful in many of the industrial applications. New NLO chalcone derivative (2E)-3-[4-(methylsulfanyl)phenyl]-1-(4-nitrophenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (4N4MSP) crystals have been grown by slow evaporation technique at ambient temperature. The grown crystals were subjected to single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The crystal has noncentrosymmetric structure in the orthorhombic system with space group Aba2 and unit cell parameters a=14.0647(15) Å, b=33.738(4) Å and c=6.0039(6) Å. To confirm the presence of various functional groups in the compound, FT-IR spectrum was recorded. The crystal was subjected to TGA/DTA analysis to find its thermal stability. The grown crystals were characterized for their optical transmission and mechanical hardness. The second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency of the crystal is obtained by classical powdered technique using Nd:YAG laser and its value is 28.57 times that of urea. The laser damage threshold for 4N4MSP crystal was determined using Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. The refractive index values for green and red wavelengths were measured by Brewster angle technique. The dielectric and electrical measurements were carried out to study the different polarization mechanism and conductivity of the crystal. Good thermal, mechanical, transmission and SHG response make it desirable for the NLO applications.     

X-ray single-crystal structural characterization of MgCr2O4, a post-spinel phase synthesized at 23 GPa and 1600 °C

The crystal structure and chemical composition of a crystal of MgCr₂O₄ post-spinel phase synthesized in the model system Mg₃Cr₂Si₃O₁₂–Mg₄Si₄O₁₂ at 23 GPa and 1600 °C have been investigated. Electron microprobe analysis confirmed the MgCr₂O₄ stochiometry of the studied phase. The compound was found to crystallize with the orthorhombic calcium-titanate (CaTi₂O₄) structure type, space group Bbmm, with lattice parameters a=9.468(1), b=9.670(1), c=2.845(1) Å, V=260.5(1) Å³, and Z=4. The structure was refined to R1=0.046 using 286 independent reflections. Magnesium was found to fully occupy the eightfold-coordinated A site (with a mean bond distance of 2.289 Å) and Cr the octahedral B site (mean: 1.986 Å). The successful synthesis of MgCr₂O₄ with (CaTi₂O₄)-type structure and its structural characterization demonstrate the stability of the new post-spinel phase. The absence of MgCr₂O₄ compounds with spinel structure coexisting with the post-spinel phase in the investigated run is discussed.     

Structure of a high temperature phase of potassium dideuteriophosphate (DKDP)

We previously determined the crystal structures of the high temperature phases of KH₂PO₄ [J.A. Subramony, S. Lovell, B. Kahr, Chem. Mater. 10 (1998) 2053. [6]]. These triclinic and monoclinic phases were obtained by heating the room temperature tetragonal form until new crystal phases were identified by polarization microscopy. These samples were subsequently cooled to room temperature thereby preserving the metastable high temperature phases for analysis. KD₂PO₄ is distinct from KH₂PO₄ in that it crystallizes at room temperature in a monoclinic phase unknown for its isotopomer, therefore the question as to whether it would support the corresponding high temperature phases remained open until our report here of the transformation of monoclinic KD₂PO₄ to an isomorphous triclinic high temperature phase: space group P with a=7.475(1) Å, b=7.440(1) Å, c=7.184(1) Å, α=88.53(1) Å, β=86.81(1)°, γ=88.09(1)°, V=398.58 Å³. This is the first known high temperature phase of DKDP, a material coveted at room temperature for its optical properties.     

A new sodium samarium borate Na3Sm2(BO3)3

A new sodium samarium borate with composition Na₃Sm₂(BO₃)₃ (NSBO) has been synthesized by high temperature solid state reaction. The yellowish transparent single crystals of Na₃Sm₂(BO₃)₃ have been grown from the Na₂CO₃-H₃BO₃ flux system using the top-seeded solution growth (TSSG) method. X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrated that the NSBO crystals belong to orthorhombic systems and lattice parameters are a=5.0585 Å, b=11.0421 Å, c=7.0316 Å. The measurement of the infrared spectrum indicated that the basic anionic groups are the BO³⁻₃ groups. Furthermore, Na₃Sm₂(BO₃)₃ exhibits an optical second harmonic generation effect which is close to that of KDP (KH₂PO₄).     

Optical spectroscopy of Er:YSGG laser crystal

Er:YSGG single crystals with good optical quality were grown by Czochralski method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements show that the crystal lattice parameters of the 30 at.% Er³⁺-doped YSGG crystal were a=b=c=12.4640±0.0065 Å, α=β=γ=90°. The doping concentration of Er³⁺ in YSGG was calculated. The absorption spectrum and photoluminescence spectra of Er:YSGG crystal were studied at room temperature. Based on Judd-Ofelt (J-O) theory, the J-O intensity parameters Ω_t (t=2, 4, 6), the experimental and theoretical oscillator strengths were calculated using the absorption spectrum. The intensity parameters Ω_t (t=2,4,6) obtained to be Ω₂=0.23×10⁻²⁰ cm², Ω₄=0.86×10⁻²⁰ cm², Ω₆=0.37×10⁻²⁰ cm², respectively. With these intensity parameters, the line strengths, oscillator strengths, transition probabilities, fluorescence branching ratios and radiation lifetimes were calculated. The photoluminescence spectra and excitation spectrum of Er:YSGG were measured and studied.