Investigations on structural and photoluminescence mechanism of cerium doped l-Histidine hydrochloride mono hydrate single crystals for optical applications

• Published in: Journal of molecular structure 2017-02, Vol.1129, p.231-238
• Main Authors: Rajyalakshmi, S., Ramachandra Rao, K., Brahmaji, B., Samatha, K., Visweswara Rao, T.K., Ramakrishna, Y.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dielectric; EDAX; LHHC single crystal; Optical band gap; Photoluminescence studies; SEM
• ISSN: 0022-2860; 1872-8014
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2016.09.069

Semi organic nonlinear optical material of Ce3+ ion added l-Histidine hydrochloride monohydrate (LHHC) crystals have been grown successfully by the slow evaporation solution technique (SEST) as well as Sankaranarayanan-Ramasamy (SR) technique. Unit cell data have been measured from the single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and High resolution X-ray diffraction analysis (HRXRD) study shows relatively a good crystalline perfection. Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra indicates that the Ce3+ ion is coordinated with carboxylate group of grown crystal. The lower UV-cutoff wavelength of the incorporation of Ce3+ ion in LHHC is 240 nm. The incorporation of Ce3+ ion in the crystal lattice was observed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX). The nonlinear optical (NLO) efficiency of SR-grown crystal is 3.7 times greater with respect to potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP). We report first-time the photoluminescence (PL) mechanism of emission spectrum, which shows broad band located at 350 nm corresponding to 5d → 4f transition of Ce3+ ion and excited by 250 nm wavelength. The excitation spectrum shows a band at 258 nm due to the 4f → 5d transition of Ce3+ ion. The nature of decay curve of the grown crystal is bi-exponential with a long life time of τ2 is 8.8270 μs. Unidirectional Growth of Cerium added l-Histidine hydrochloride monohydrade single crystal. [Display omitted] •Large size Ce3+ doped LHHC single crystals were grown by unidirectional method at low temperature.•XRD & HRXRD confirms prepared sample is good crystalline material.•SHG efficiency of Ce3+ doped LHHC single crystal is 3.5 times that of pure KDP crystal.•Photoluminescence studies reveal that Ce3+: LHHC is a potential candidate for radiation detector applications.