Anisotropy of optical absorption in layered single crystals

The optical energy gap of Re doped MoSe₂ single crystal Mo_0.995Re_0.005Se₂ has been measured at room temperature near the fundamental absorption edge. The incident light was kept normal to the basal plane i.e. along the c‐axis of the grown crystals. Results have been given on the basis of two and three dimensional models. Both direct and indirect transitions are involved in the absorption process. The indirect transition was found to be allowed with two phonons involved in the process. The three dimensional model and not the two dimensional could be used to describe the optical properties of Re doped MoSe₂ single crystal. Also, the optical energy gaps depend upon the amount of the intercalating Re material. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Intercalation and anisotropy of optical absorption in MoRe0.005Se1.995 single crystals

The optical energy gap of MoRe_0.005Se_1.995 single crystal has been measured at room temperature near the fundamental absorption method. The incident light was polarized along c‐axis of the crystals. Two and three dimensional models are adopted for generating the results. Direct as well as indirect transitions are involved in the absorption process. The indirect transition was found to be allowed with two phonons involved in the process. The three dimensional model could be used to describe the optical properties of the single crystal of MoRe_0.005Se_1.995. Also, the optical energy gaps depend upon the amount of the intercalating Re material, which show the anisotropy of the chemical bonds. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Growth and characterization of ferroelectric‐ferroelastic Tb2(MoO4)3 crystals

Transparent and nearly colorless ferroelectric‐ferroelastic β′‐Tb₂(MoO₄)₃ (TMO) single crystals have been grown by the Czochralski (CZ) method. The single crystal structure was investigated by X‐ray powder diffraction and was shown to be a single phase with the structure similar as the β′‐Gd₂(MoO₄)₃ crystal. The optical transparency of the TMO crystal has been measured and the crystal is almost transparent in the visible and near infrared regions. The defects of TMO crystal were evaluated by etching technique and the ferroelectric domain structures were observed by an optical microscope. A high‐resolution X‐ray diffraction analysis demonstrates that the as‐grown TMO crystal possesses relatively high optical quality. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Diamagnetic and photoabsorption characterisation of gel‐grown cadmium oxalate single crystals

Perfect single crystals of cadmium oxalate trihydrate have been grown using the slow and controlled reaction between Cd⁺² and (C₂O₄)^‐2 ions in agar‐agar gel, resulting in the formation of insoluble product Cd(COO)₂.3H₂O. The optimum growth parameters have been determined. The variation of magnetic moment of the grown crystals under an applied static magnetic field is studied and the material is found to be diamagnetic. The polarizability is found sensitive to optical band gap. An empirical relation between magnetic susceptibility and electronic polarizability has been established. Optical absorption spectra of the sample recorded in the range 200‐2500 nm reveal transitions involving absorption and emission of phonons. The detailed study supports the existence of allowed direct and indirect allowed gaps in the material. The direct allowed transition prevails in the region of relatively higher photon energy. Some feeble disorder in the crystal is conceived to be present. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Optical characterization and crystal structure of the novel bronzetype CaxBa1‐xNb2O6 (x = 0.28; CBN‐28)

Calcium barium niobate (CBN), also like strontium barium niobate (SBN), belongs to the materials family of partially filled tetragonal tungsten bronzes, which show relaxor‐type ferroelectric phase transitions and large electro‐optic effects. For the first time, it was possible to grow large single crystals of Ca_0.25Ba_0.75Nb₂O₆ (CBN‐25) and CBN‐28 by using different growing techniques. The successful single crystal growth allowed to investigate several physical properties of the novel phase. Herein, we report on measurements of differential thermal analysis (DTA), wavelength dispersion of the refractive indices, temperature dependence of the birefringence and light absorption. Additionally, results of the single crystal X‐ray structure analysis are presented.     

Synthesis and characterization of a new nonlinear optical single crystal: L‐Lysinium trifluoroacetate

Single crystals of a new L‐Lysine salt: L‐Lysinium trifluoroacetate {abbreviated as LLyTFA; [(NH₂)‐(CH₂)₄‐CH‐(NH₃)‐(COOH)]⁺ CF₃COO^‐} were grown by slow evaporation of an aqueous solution at room temperature. The grown crystals were subjected to single crystal X‐ray diffraction, FTIR and UV‐Vis‐NIR spectrum analyses. The UV‐Vis‐NIR spectrum shows that the absorption is very less in the whole of the region from ultraviolet to near IR. The Kurtz‐Perry powder SHG measurement using a Nd:YAG laser of wavelength 1064nm confirms the frequency doubling of the crystal and its powder SHG efficiency was measured as d_eff = 0.96 d_eff (KDP). (© 2007 WILEY ‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Periodic modulation on the refractive index in a Bi12TiO20 crystal

It is, well know that some, optical materials to change his refractive index when these exposed to light, depending on particular conditions, they can generate several distributions of refractive index. In this work, an experimental periodic arrangement of refractive index generated on the Bi₁₂TiO₂₀ photorrefractive crystal is presented, the initial condition used was generated by superposing two He‐Ne laser linearly polarized beams in a perpendicular direction to the external field applied to the crystal at 632.8 nm. The diagrams of bands generated with this arrangement is studied, based on the similarities presented by the periodic refractive index with the photonic bandgap (PBG) diagrams one‐dimensional superlattices composed of alternating layers of two distinct materials. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Synthesis of anisotropic gold nanoparticles using xylitol as a dual functional reductant and stabilizer

The morphology of gold nanoparticles was controlled with hydrogentetrachloroaurate (HAuCl₄) and xylitol through a hydrothermal process using xylitol as reducing agent and controlled reagent. The molar ratio of xylitol relative to HAuCl₄, reaction time and temperature played important roles in determining the geometric shape and size of the product. These nanoplates were single crystals with planar width of 80‐500 nm. The formation of nanobelts and two‐dimensional single‐crystal nanosheets is explained by the preferential adsorption of xylitol molecules from the solution onto the {111} planes of Au nuclei. These nanosheets could be used, for example, in gas sensors, in the fabrication of nanodevices and substrate materials, in property studies, and also for inducing hypothermia in tumors. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Flux growth of La‐doped lead zirconate stannate titanate antiferroelectric crystals

Relaxor antiferroelectric single crystals lead lanthanum zirconate stannate titanate (PLZST) with the composition around the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) have been grown by flux method using 50 wt% PbO‐PbF₂‐B₂O₃ as a flux. The obtained crystals are light yellow in color. The XRD patterns revealed that the habitual faces of the obtained crystal are (001). The crystal morphology was studied and related to a layer growth mechanism controlled by two‐dimensional growth. The chemical composition of as‐grown crystal was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP), indicating a slight decrease of the amount of Ti compared to the starting materials. The result was verified by the XRD patterns with the phase transformation from the co‐existence of tetragonal and rhombohedra phases to the single tetragonal phase. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Preparation of (KBr‐KCl)(OH−):(F2+)H color center laser crystal series and their spectral characteristics

In order to adjust and broaden the absorption spectrum and emission spectrum of the (F₂⁺)H type color center so as to match up to the pumping and to fit in with the demand of application, a (KBr‐KCl)(OH⁻):(F₂⁺)H color center laser crystal series was prepared by the process of single crystal growth, additive coloration, anneal, and light aggregation at 290 K and 77 K. The spectral characteristics of (KBr‐KCl)(OH⁻) crystals are investigated. It is found that the absorption and emission band of the (F₂⁺)H color centers in KBr‐KCl complex host crystals has a considerable adjustment and extensions compared to the color centers in single KBr or KCl crystal. (© 2003 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Synthesis,crystal structure and third order nonlinear optical properties of bis(tetra‐n‐propylammonium) bis(2‐thioxo‐1,3‐dithiole‐4,5‐dithiolato)cuprate(II)

A novel bis (dmit) complex of copper (II), [(C₃H₇)₄N]₂[Cu(dmit)₂] ( 1 ), where dmit is 2‐thioxo‐1,3‐dithiole‐4,5‐dithiolate, was prepared and structurally characterized by X‐ray single crystal diffraction. The copper (II) atom is tetracoordinated by four dmit S atoms, forming a nearly square planar arrangement. The [Cu(dmit)₂]^2‐ anions and the [(C₃H₇)₄N]⁺ counter‐cations form a three‐dimensional solid‐state structure by C–H…S hydrogen bonds. The third‐order nonlinear optical properties of the complex were determined by picosecond Z‐scan technique at a wavelength of 1064 nm. The results indicate the compound exhibits reverse saturation absorption and self‐defocusing performance. The molecular second‐order hyperpolarizability γ is calculated to be as high as (1.8±0.2)×10^‐30 esu. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Growth and characterization of nonlinear optical zinc hydrogen phosphate single crystal grown in silica gel

Good optical quality single crystals of zinc hydrogen phosphate (ZnHPO₄) having dimensions up to 8×2×2 mm³ have been grown with the aid of sodium meta silicate gel. Single crystal XRD studies confirm that the crystal belongs to the orthorhombic system with space group P2₁2₁2₁. The functional groups present in the crystals were confirmed using FTIR technique. Optical absorbance shows very low absorption in the entire visible region. Differential thermal and thermo gravimetric analysis confirmed that the crystal is stable up to 193°C. Photoconductivity study reveals positive photoconductivity in the presence of photo active centers formed by trap energy levels. The NLO activity of the crystal was confirmed by Kurtz powder technique. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Experimental Verification of the Numerical Model for a CaF2 Crystal Growth Process

Large calcium fluoride (CaF₂) single crystals are required for the fabrication of lenses in so‐called wafer‐steppers of future IC‐lithography technologies operating at 193 nm and 157 nm. Numerical simulation plays an important role to design an adequate growth setup and processing conditions for the growth of high quality crystals. An important issue is the consideration of the internal heat transfer by radiation in the semitransparent CaF₂ during the crystal growth process. Results of the numerical modeling of the heat transport are presented, which are obtained by using the software package CrysVUn++ with different models considering the internal heat transport in CaF₂. To improve the availability of experimental data on CaF₂ bulk growth, an especially designed R&D‐facility was built. This growth system is equipped with a variety of in‐situ measurement systems to detect the temperature distributions in the crystal and melt region. Calculated temperature distributions are compared with experimental data. Also first results on single crystal growth will be reported.     

Crystal and molecular structure of 1‐allyl‐5‐(4‐methylbenzoyl)‐4‐(4‐methylphenyl)pyrimidine‐2(1H)‐thione

The crystal structure of 1‐allyl‐5‐(4‐methylbenzoyl)‐4‐(4‐methylphenyl)pyrimidine‐2(1H)‐thione (C₂₂H₂₀N₂OS) has been determined from three dimensional single crystal X‐ray diffraction data. The title compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P 2₁/c, with a = 10.6674(13), b = 10.1077(7), c = 17.9467(19) Å, β = 98.460(9)°, V = 1914.0(3) ų, D_calc = 1.251 g cm^–3, Z = 4. In the title compound, the allyl group shows positional disorder. Molecules are linked by C‐H···O, C‐H···N and C‐H···S intermolecular interactions forming two‐dimensional network. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Growth,crystal structure and spectrum of a novel rare‐earth orthophosphate crystal: Yb:LuPO4

Yb: LuPO₄ crystals with the size up to 6×2×0.5mm³ were grown by the flux growth process using lead pyrophosphate Pb₂P₂O₇ as the high‐temperature solvent. The crystal structure of Yb: LuPO₄ crystals at room temperature was refined by using single crystal X‐ray diffraction data. Crystal structure analysis showed that Yb: LuPO₄ crystals possessed the tetragonal xenotime structure. The polarized absorption spectra of Yb: LuPO₄ were tested at room temperature. The results showed that the absorption spectral region of Yb: LuPO₄ crystal was well matched for pumping with readily available diode lasers.     

Crystal structure of caesium hydrogen (L)‐aspartate and an overview of crystalline compounds of aspartic acid with inorganic constituents

The crystal structure of the new polar compound caesium hydrogen (L)‐aspartate, Cs(C₄H₆NO₄), (abbreviated: Cs(L ‐AspH)) was determined from single crystal X‐ray diffraction data; it comprises two crystallographically different L ‐AspH anions that are connected via caesium cations to form a three dimensional framework. The Cs ions are irregularly sevenfold [Cs1O₇] respectively eightfold [Cs2O₈] coordinated to all α– and β– carboxylate oxygen atoms. Cs(L ‐AspH) represents a novel structure type of its own, as do most compounds of (L)‐aspartic acid with inorganic constituents. A brief summary of such structurally known aspartates is given. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Optical absorption spectra and related parameters of ammonium zinc chloride crystal in the antiferroelectric and commensurate phases

Optical absorption along the three crystallographic axes of (NH₄)₂ZnCl₄ single crystals is reported over a temperature range from 276 K to 350 K. Our results clearly confirm the antiferroelectric to commensurate phase transition at 319 K. Analysis reveals that at the absorption edge the type of transition is the indirect allowed one. The indirect band gaps at various temperatures are determined and their temperature dependence is estimated in the antiferroelectric and commensurate phases. Optical parameters related to the temperature dependence of the energy gap are evaluated. The single‐effective oscillator model was used to describe the imaginary part of the dielectric constant, which facilitate calculation of the dipole moment parameters. The steepness parameter is given, its value is used to estimate the temperature dependence of the indirect energy gap and the result is compared with that calculated graphically. In the region of the absorption edge, the absorption coefficient obeys Urbach's rule. Urbach characteristic parameters are determined and their temperature dependence is investigated. Correlation between different parameters is considered. Most of the results confirm the optical isotropic nature of AZC crystals. (© 2003 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Spectroscopic properties of Tm,Ho:CaYAlO4 single crystal

A Tm,Ho:CaYAlO₄ single crystal was grown using the Czochralski (CZ) method. The absorption spectra, the fluorescence spectrum around 2 μm, the upconversion spectrum and energy‐transfer (ET) schemes between Tm³⁺ ions and Ho³⁺ ions have been studied. The crystal boule was free from cracks, inclusions and scattering centers. The broad FWHM of the 797‐nm absorption band (with E//c polarization is 19 nm and with E//a polarization is 18 nm), the large emission bandwidth (about 600 nm) and the intense ET from Tm³⁺ ions to Ho³⁺ ions make Tm,Ho:CaYAlO₄ a promising media for tunable and ultrashort pulses.     

Growth,structural, thermal and optical studies on L‐glutamic acid hydrobromide – A new semiorganic NLO material

A new semiorganic crystal, L‐glutamic acid hydrobromide, C₅H₁₀NO₄Br (GHB) has been grown from aqueous solution. The single crystal X‐ray analysis of the crystal showed that it belongs to the non‐centrosymmetric P2₁2₁2₁ space group with protonated glutamic acid as cation and bromine as anion. The back‐bone conformations of the amino acid are in cis and trans form. The side‐chain conformations are observed to be in gauche I / trans / cis / trans forms. The characteristic ‘head‐to‐tail’ hydrogen bonding interaction is observed through a chain C(5) motif. Further, the crystal structure is stabilized by an intricate three‐dimensional hydrogen bonding network. TGA/DTA showed that the grown crystals are thermally stable upto 219 °C without any phase transition. The functional groups responsible for the various modes of vibrations were identified by using FTIR spectroscopy. UV‐Vis‐NIR spectra showed that the crystals have excellent transparency in the visible and infrared regions. The second harmonic generation (SHG) conversion efficiency was investigated to explore the NLO characteristics of the material. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Growth and characterization of magneto‐optical YFeO3 crystals

The floating zone growth of magneto‐optical crystal YFeO₃ has been investigated. The polycrystalline feed rod was prepared by a pressure of 250MPa and sintering at about 1500°C. A crack‐ free YFeO₃ single crystal has been successfully grown. The crystal preferred to crystallize along <100> direction with about 10° deviation. The X‐ray rocking curve of the crystal has a FWHM of 24 arcsec, confirming the high crystal quality of the sample. The (100) plane was etched by hot phosphoric acid and the dislocation density was about 10⁴/cm². A thin outer layer with Y₂O₃‐rich composition was found at the periphery of as‐grown crystals, which was attributed to the Fe₂O₃ evaporation during growth. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)