Growth, Morphology, Thermal, Spectral, Linear, and Nonlinear Optical Properties of l-Arginine Bis(trifluoroacetate) Crystal

• Published in: Crystal growth & design 2009-07, Vol.9 (7), p.3251-3259
• Main Authors: Sun, Zhihua, Zhang, Guanghui, Wang, Xinqiang, Gao, Zeliang, Cheng, Xiufeng, Zhang, Shaojun, Xu, Dong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Methods of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Optical properties of bulk materials and thin films; Physics; Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography; Structure of specific crystalline solids; Theory and models of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth, crystal morphology and orientation; Thermal expansion; thermomechanical effects and density; Thermal properties of condensed matter; Thermal properties of crystalline solids
• ISSN: 1528-7483; 1528-7505
• DOI: 10.1021/cg801360q

Single crystals of the nonlinear optical material, l-arginine bis(trifluoroacetate), with dimensions of 32 × 21 × 4 mm3 were grown by the temperature-lowering method from its aqueous solution. The crystal structure was determined using X-ray single-crystal diffraction at 93 K. X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, and Raman spectroscopic investigations were used to characterize the grown crystal. Morphological analysis reveals that the crystal is a rhombohedron with the major forms of (001), (1̅01), and (1̅00). UV−visible−NIR absorption spectrum and second harmonic generation were investigated to explore its characteristic optical features. Thermogravimetric (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), derivative thermogravimetric (DTG), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies were carried out to characterize the thermal behaviors of the grown crystals. In addition, the specific heat at low temperature and thermal expansion coefficients along the principal axes were determined. Its dielectric properties from 213 to 373 K were investigated by the impedance analysis. Surface morphologies of laser-induced damaged crystal were observed with an optical microscope and the natural origin of damage was analyzed.