Journal of Minerals & Materials Characterization & Engineering, Vol. 11, No.3, pp.303-310, 201 2
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303
Growth and Char ac te riz at io n of a New Semi-Organic Non linear
Optical Crystal: Thiosemicarbazide Cadmium Acetate
K. Selvarajua,*, K.Kirubavathib, S. Kumararamanc
a Department of Physics, Govt. Arts College, Ariya lur -621 713, India
b Department of Physics, Thiru Kolanjiapper Govt. Arts College, Virdudhachalam-606 001, India
c Department of Physics, Nehru Memorial College, Puthanampatti-621 007, India
*Corresponding author: selva_thrc@yahoo.com
Abstract
A new semi-organic nonlinear optical thiosemicarbazide cadmium acetate (TSCA) material has
been synthesized. TSCA single crystals were grown from aqueous solution by slow evaporation
method. The solubility of TSCA has been determined for various temperatures. The grown
crystals were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), FTIR, UV-Vis., thermal
and second harmonic generation (SHG) analysis. Single crystal XRD study has been carried out
to identify the lattice parameters. FTIR studies confirm the functional groups present in the
grown crystal. Optical transmission studies have confirmed that the grown crystal is highly
transparent. Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses reveal the good thermal
stability of the material. The SHG conversion efficiency of TSCA was determined using Kurtz
powder technique and found two times that of potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate (KDP).
Keywor d s: Growth from solution; Semiorganic; Nonlinear optical crystal
1. INTRODUCTION
Second order nonlinear optics is widely used to convert the frequency of coherent laser source.
Applications such as laser based imaging, communication, remote switching and countermeasure
systems require improved nonlinear optical materials to accomplish such conversions. A strong
need continues to exist for lower cost, more effic ient, higher average power materials for optical
parametric amplifier operation and second harmonic generation throughout the blue-near-uv
spectral region [1,2]. Much attention has been paid to organic nonlinear optical (NLO) materials
304 K. Selva raj u, K.Kirubava thi Vol.11, No.3
due to their promising applications in optoelectronics technology [3] and the much larger
nonlinear response, extremely fast switching time and convenient optimization routs through
molecular engineering compared to the currently studied inorganic materials [4]. However,
organic materials may suffer from problems, such as volatility, low thermal stability, mechanical
weakness, et c. Th e need fo r m ateri als wh ich combine l arg e non li near o pt i cal characte ris ti cs wit h
resistance to physical and chemical attack has led to the investigation of semi-organics [5,6].
Semi-organic materials have the potential for combining high optical nonlinearity and chemical
flexibility of organics with the physical ruggedness of inorganic. Ligands like thiourea,
allylthiourea, thiocyanate and thiosemicarbazide with S and N donors are capable to combine
with metal to form stable complexes through coordinated bonds. These complexes show ligand
to metal charge transfer by an electron movement form ligand to metal and metal to ligand in
addition to ππ* conjugation. Metals with d10 configuration like zinc, cadmium, mercury
readily combine with thiourea and thiosemicarbazide resulting in stable compounds with high
optical nonlineatiry and good physiochemical behavior. Thiourea and thiosemicarbazide based
organ metallic optical crystals like bis thiourea cadmium chloride, bis thiourea zinc acetate, bis
thiourea bismuth chloride, thiosemicarbazide cadmium bromide hydrate, thiosemicarbazide
cadmium chloride [7-11].
In the present investigation, attempts have been made to grow single crystal of TSCA for the first
time and characterize them by single crystal X-ray diffracti on (XRD), Fou rier transform in frared
(FTIR) analysis, optical transmission, thermal and SHG efficiency studies.
2. EXPERIMENTAL PRO CEDURE
2.1. Material Synthesis
TSCA salt was synthesized using cadmium acetate (AR grade) and thiosemicarbazide (AR
grade) in the stoichmetric ratio 1:1. The required quantity of cadmium acetate and
thiosemicarbazide was estimated according to the following reaction:
Cd (CH3COO)2 + NH2-NH-CS-NH2 Cd (NH2-NH-CS-NH2) (CH3COO)2
The calculated amount of cadmium acetate was first dissolved in the deionized water. Then
thiosemicarbazide was added to the solution slowly with stirring. The prepared solution was led
to dryness at room temperature. The purity of the synthesized salt was improved by successive
recrystallization. The careful observation was taken for drying the prepared solution and the
temperature was never allowed to exceed 50 ºC so as to avoid decomposition of the solute
molecules.
Vol.11, No .3 Growth and characterization of a new 305
2.2. Solubility
The solubility of TSCA was determined in th e ra nge of 30-45 ºC. The sol ubilit y was determined
by dissolving the solute by stirring in water in an airtight container maintained at the relevant
temperature. After attaining saturation, the equilibrium concentration of the solute was estimated
gravim etricall y. The sam e process was rep eated to estim ate the equi librium co ncentratio n of the
solute at various temperatures. Fig. 1 shows the solubility curve for TSCA at different
temperat u res.
4
5
6
7
8
25 3035 4045 50
Temperat ure (º C)
S ol ubi l ity (g/100m l )
Fig. 1. Solubility curve of TSCA
2.3. Growth of TSCA
In the present study, TSCA crystals were grown by using slow evaporation technique.
Recr ystall i z ed sal t of TSC A was tak en as a ra w m ateri al . S atu rated TS C A so lu ti on was p repare d
at room temperature with deionized water as solvent. The prepared solution was filtered with a
microfilter. The solution was taken in vessels and closed with covers and kept in a dust-free
atmosphere. The crystals were harvested when they attained an optimal size and shape. The
grown crystals are shown in Fig.2.
3. CHARACTERIZATION
The single crystal x-ray diffraction analysis was carried out using ENRAF NONIUS CAD4 X-
ray diffractometer to identify the structure and to estimate the lattice parameter values. Fourier
transform infrared spectrum of TSCA crystal was recorded by the KBr pellet technique using a
BRUKER 66V FTIR spectrometer to confirm the vibrational structure of the crystalline
compound with the range of wavenumber 400-4000cm-1. UV-Visible spectrum was recorded in
the range of 200-1400nm using VARIAN CARY 5E spectrometer. Thermal behavior of the
306 K. Selva raj u, K.Kirubava thi Vol.11, No.3
grown sample was studied by using STA 1500 thermal analyzer. The NLO property of TSCA
was tested by Kurtz powder SHG test using an Nd:YAG laser.
Fig. 2. As-grown TSCA crystal
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1. Single Crystal XRD Analysis
In order to estimate the crystal data, single crystal X-ray diffraction studies were carried out
using Enraf Nonius CAD4 single crystal diffractometer. The structure was solved by direct
method and refined by the full matrix least squares technique using SHELX program. It is
observed that the grown TSCA crystal belongs to monoclinic system and the lattice parameter
values are a = 6.675 A°, b = 10.569 A°, c = 23.689 A° and β = 109.20°.
4.2. FTIR Analysis
The FTIR spectral analysis of TSCA was carried out between 4000 and 400 cm-1. The observed
spectrum is shown in Fig. 3. In the high energy region, there is a broad band between 2100 and
3500 cm-1. Intense sharp peak was observed at 31 80 cm-1 due to O-H vibration. The involvement
of NH3+ in hydrogen bonding is the evident by the fine structure of the band in the lower energy
region. In the high energy region, the band observed at 2929 cm-1 is due to the NH2 bending
vibration. The peak at 1418 cm-1 is due to symmetric NH3+ bending. The bands appear in the
region 1534 cm-1 and 798 cm-1 is assigned to C=S. In the lower energ y region, the intense sharp
Vol.11, No .3 Growth and characterization of a new 307
4000.0
3000
2000
1500
1000
400.0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100.0
cm-1
%T
3775.75
3370.59
3180.59
2929.57
2369.86
2015.87
1745.51
1621.05
1534.04
1418.12
1315.53
1282.27
1159.99
99 9.50
79 8.23
64 9.55
59 7.78
41 0.16
peak observed at 649 cm-1 is due to the N-H out-of plane bending vibrations [12,13]. The band at
999 cm-1 is due to N-N vibration. The band observed at 1621 cm-1 indicating that sulphur is
involved in metal coordination.
4.3. UV-Vis. Studies
Optical window width is an important char acteristic of a nonlinear optical material. The UV-
Visible spectrum of TSCA was obtained between 200 and 1400nm (Fig. 4). There is no
absorption band in between 300 and 1200nm. This shows the absence of any overtones and
absorbance due to electronic transitions above 280nm. This illustrates no absorbance in the
visible and near IR region, hence it is a potential candidate for nonlinear optical applications.
The characteristics absorbance band only observed at 280nm.
Fig. 3. FTIR spectrum of TSCA single crystal
308 K. Selva raj u, K.Kirubava thi Vol.11, No.3
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
200 400 600 800100012001400
Wavelengt h (nm )
A bsorbanc e (arb. Uni t )
Fig. 4. Optical absorption spectrum of TSCA single crystal
4.4. Thermal Analyses
The thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) spectra of the
crystal were taken using the instrument STA 1500 thermal analyzer. The TGA and DTA were
carried out in nitrogen atmosphere at a heating rate of 20°C /min from 25 to 610°C. Fig. 5 shows
the TGA/DTA traces of TSCA. The first endothermic peak in DTA at 163 °C corresponds to the
phase transformation of TSCA. Hence TSCA is structurally stable upto 163 °C. The major
weight loss (27%) occurring between 182 °C and 288 °C suggests that the sample melts and
sublimes immediately and then decomposes gradually. This is also indicated by a sharp
endothermic peak in the DTA trace of the sample at 225 °C.
4.5. SHG Test
The grown TSCA crystals were subjected to Kurtz powder second harmonic generation test to
study their NLO efficiencies. The crystalline powder was illuminated using a Spectra Physics
Quanta Ray Nd:YAG laser using the first harmonic output of 1064nm with a pulse width of 10
ns and a repetition rate of 10Hz. The second harmonic signal generated in the crystalline sample
was confirmed from the emission of green radiation of wavelength 532nm collected a
monochromator after separating the 1064nm pump beam with an IR blocking filter. A
photomultiplier tube as used as a detector. It is observed that the measured second harmonic
generation efficiency of TSCA crystal was two times ( Table 1) that of potassium dihydrogen
phosphate (KDP).
Vol.11, No .3 Growth and characterization of a new 309
Fig. 5. TG-DTA curves of TSCA single crystal
Table 1 Comparison of SHG signal energy output
Input power (mJ/pulse)
KDP (mV)
TSCA (mV)
2.8
18
37
5. CONCLUSIONS
We have successfully grown the crystals of thiosemicarbazide cadmium acetate (TSCA) of
appreciable size by slow evaporation technique. The crystal system was identified from single
cr ystal X-ra y diffraction. The functional groups of the grown compound have been identified by
FTIR analysis. TSCA has a wide transparency window from 300 to 1200nm, which highlights
their prospects of applications as NLO materials. Thermal analysis clearly illustrates that the
crystal undergoes decomposition above 163°C. NLO property was confirmed using ND:YAG
laser of wavelength 1064nm and the efficiency was estimated to be two times higher than KDP.
310 K. Selva raj u, K.Kirubava thi Vol.11, No.3
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