Growth and characterization of semiorganic crystal potassium hydrogen oxalate

Single crystals of potassium hydrogen oxalate (KHO), a semiorganic nonlinear optical material, were grown from aqueous solution by slow evaporation solution growth technique at room temperature. The cell parameters of KHO were determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction and the crystal system was identified as monoclinic. The suitability of this material for nonlinear optical application was studied by UV–Vis spectral study and the second harmonic generation efficiency measurement by Kurtz–Perry powder method. The nature of coordination and the functional groups present were investigated by the Fourier transform infrared spectrum. The thermal stability of the crystal was analyzed by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis. Vickers microhardness test was carried out on the growth crystal to assess its mechanical stability.