Solution growth of a novel nonlinear optical material: L-histidine tetrafluoroborate

• Published in: Journal of crystal growth 1999-07, Vol.204 (1), p.179-182
• Main Authors: Aggarwal, M.D, Choi, J, Wang, W.S, Bhat, K, Lal, R.B, Shields, Angela D, Penn, Benjamin G, Frazier, Donald O
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Growth from solutions; L-HFB; L-histidine tetrafluoroborate; Materials science; Methods of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth; Morphology; Nonlinear optical crystals; Optical materials; Optics; Physics; Solubility curve; Solution growth
• ISSN: 0022-0248; 1873-5002
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-0248(99)00200-6

Single crystals of L-histidine tetrafluoroborate (L-HFB), a semiorganic nonlinear optical (NLO) material have been successfully grown by the temperature lowering and evaporation methods in our laboratory. Solubility curves of L-HFB have been determined in different solvents, such as water, ethanol and acetone. The solubility of L-HFB is very low in acetone and ethanol, therefore, it is not feasible to grow L-HFB single crystals using these solvents. Good quality single crystals of a novel nonlinear optical material L-HFB have been grown from aqueous solution. Effects of seed orientation on morphologies of L-HFB crystals were studied. The advantages and disadvantages of both the evaporation and the temperature lowering techniques are compared. The single crystals in size 20×20×10 mm 3 were grown with the deionized water as solvent in two weeks with an approximate growth rate of 1.4 mm/d. The transmission range for these crystals has been found to be from 250 to 1500 nm.