Received 21 August 2015; accepted 27 September 2015; published 30 September 2015

ABSTRACT

Single crystals of sodium chloride doped Potassium Hydrogen Phthalate (KHP) were grown from aqueous solution by slow evaporation method at room temperature. The powder X-ray diffraction analysis was carried out and lattice cell parameters estimated. FTIR studies confirm the presence of functional groups and slight distortion of groups due to doping of sodium metal. UV-visible and photoluminescence spectral studies revealed to understand the optical properties. The NLO property of grown crystals has been confirmed by Kurtz powder technique. Dielectric studies of samples showed that dielectric constant decreased slowly with increasing frequency and attains saturation at higher frequencies.

Keywords:

Crystal Growth, Second Harmonic Generation, Lattice Parameters, Dielectric Constant, Photoluminescence

1. Introduction

Second order nonlinear optical (NLO) materials have recently attracted much attention due to their potential applications in emerging optoelectronic technologies [1] . Materials with large optical nonlinearities with stable physical and thermal efficiencies required for many of these applications. Non-linear optical (NLO) materials have attracted and gained enormous demand due to their wide applications in the recent technologies like optoelectronics, optical communication and data storage systems [2] [3] . Potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHP) crystal, with chemical formula K (C₆H₄COOH・COO), is well known material for its application in the production of crystal analyzers for long-wave X-ray spectrometers [4] - [7] . Phthalate single crystals are piezoelectrics with high coefficients of acousto-optical interaction [8] [9] . KHP crystallizes in orthorhombic structure with space group Pca2₁ [10] [11] . It has platelet morphology with cleavage along (010) plane. This feature allows one to use them for data processing and intra laser modulation in various acousto optical devices [12] - [14] . It is important to search for new NLO material, which possesses large NLO coefficient, shorter cutoff wavelength, transparency in the UV region and higher laser damage threshold [15] [16] . Influence of alkali metal has strong effect on the material properties like morphology, optical and thermoluminescene [17] [18] .

2. Experimental

2.1. Crystal Growth

Potassium Hydrogen Phthalate (KHP) analytical reagent (AR) grade was purified by repeated recrystallisation using double distilled water as solvent. The crystals were grown by slow evaporation solution growth technique (SEST) at room temperature. A saturated solution was prepared (12 g/100ml from literature) under slightly acidic conditions pH is 4.8. Sodium Chloride (AR grade) of different concentration (1M%, 3M% and 5M%), were prepared and added 5 ml each separately to the supersaturated solution of KHP. Pure and doped solution was stirred for 7 - 8 hr using magnetic stirrer for homogeneous mixing. After homogeneous mixing solutions were transferred to clean Petri dish covered with polythene cover and perorations were made on polythene covers for proper evaporation of the solvent. The whole setup was kept in dust free area and closely monitored. Small crystals appeared in the beginning about 4 - 5 days for both pure and doped KHP, due to slow evaporation and grew larger in considerable time of about 15 - 20 days. At higher concentration of dopant, the adsorption film blocks the growth surface and inhibits the growth process [19] .

Good quality optically transparent large size crystals were selected for carrying out the measurements. Photographs of grown doped and undoped crystals as shown in Figure 1.

2.2. Characterisation

In order to confirm the material of the crystal powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) in the 2θ range 5˚ to 70˚ with Cu K_α (λ = 1.5418 Å). The TG-DTA studies were carried out using TA-Instruments model NETZSCH TG 209 F1 with heat range 10˚C/min. The FT-IR spectrum was recorded using Bruker-alpha for all crystals grown in the range of 400 cm⁻¹ to 4000 cm⁻¹. Ocean Optics UV-Vis-NIR spectrometer was used to study optical transparency

of the crystals between 200 nm to 900 nm. The SGH test was carried by the Kurtz powder method. AN Nd:YAG laser with 1.064 μm was made fall on samples packed in micro-capillary tube. SHG generated by randomly oriented microcrystals were detected by photomultiplier tube after filtration of incident radiation of 1.064 μm. The frequency doubling was confirmed by Green colour of the output radiation. The SHG were carried out for all grown crystals. The Photoluminescence studies were carried using Horiba Jobin YVON LabRam equipment. The dielectric study was carried out for pure and doped samples using impendence analysis Interface LCR meter model PSM 1735 N4L at room temperature.

3. Results and Discussions

3.1. X-Ray Diffraction Analysis

The pure and NaCl doped crystals were subjected to powder X-ray diffraction. Using the JCPDS with X’pert high Score plus software data were analyzed. It showed that doped KHP crystallizes in orthorhombic system with space group Pca2₁. The calculated lattice parameters were in agreement with reported values [20] . The Ionic radius of K atom is slightly large compare to that of Na atom [21] . Hence it is reasonable to agree that the dopant can enter the crystalline matrix without much distortion. Very small minor changes in peak intensity due to lattice strains as result of doping but the basic crystalline structure remains the same. The obtained cell parameters are a = 9.653 Å, b = 13.461 Å, c = 6.431 Å & α = β = γ = 90˚ for pure KHP and a = 9.577 Å, b = 13.246 Å, c = 6.463 Å; a = 9.628 Å, b = 13.555 Å, c = 6.518 Å; a = 9.844 Å, b = 13.389 Å, c = 6.340 Å and α = β = γ = 90˚ respectively for 1M%, 3M% & 5M% of NaCl doped KHP crystals. The XRD spectra shown in Figure 2.

3.2. FT-IR Spectral Studies

The FT-IR spectral analysis was carried out in the region 4000 - 400 cm⁻¹. The spectrum is shown in Figure 3, the functional groups present were identified and a small shift is observed as result of NaCl doping. It is due to the lattice strain developed. In The spectra, that characteristic OH stretching peaks occur at 3441 cm⁻¹, 3443 cm⁻¹, 3452 cm⁻¹ for pure (0M%) and doped (3M% & 5M%) respectively shows shifting of vibrational absorptions. This could be due to lattice strain because of doping of Na⁺ ion into crystal lattice [20] . The some of the stretching frequencies are given below (Table 1).

3.3. Thermal Studies

The TG-DTA curves of pure and doped crystals are shown in Figure 4. The analyses were carried out for pure

and doped crystals between 30˚C to 1000˚C in Nitrogen atmosphere with heating rate of 10˚C/min. From the TG curve, it is evident that the pure KHP is stable up to 303˚C [22] [23] . In doped crystals are 308˚C, 308˚C & 309˚C respectively for 1M%, 3M% & 5M%, no decomposition. This shows that, there is a slight increase in melting point due to effect of doping ensures the stability. The TG-DTA curves for doped and undoped samples shows two stage weight loss patterns. The first major weight loss occurred between the temperatures 269˚C and 303˚C with 40%, this weight loss. The second stage weight loss noticed between the temperatures 303˚C and 494˚C experiences a weight loss of about 60% with complete decomposition of Phthalic acid. The TG curves shows that pure and doped KHP crystals are stable upto 303˚C and can be designed for device application in this temperature range.

3.4. UV-Visible Spectral Studies

The grown crystals of pure and urea doped KHP were subjected to optical absorption studies. The samples scanned in the wavelength range 200 - 900 nm. The high percentage of transmission in the entire visible region is observed for all samples and an important property for NLO applications. It is observed that, no significant change in the cut-off wavelength for doped crystals. The UV-Vis spectra are shown in Figure 5 which shows these crystals can be used for optical device fabrication.

3.5. Photoluminescence Studies

The PL spectrum of pure and doped crystals when excited with laser of wavelength 325 nm are shown in Figure 6. Broad peaks from green to violet emissions for pure and doped KHP crystals observed. There is no significant change in peak but shift from 416 nm to 406 nm is observed with increase in dopent concentration, which shows the enhancement fluorescence which act as ligand. The intermolecular energy transfer is also facilitated which may enhance fluorescence [24] [25] . A peak at 493 nm and 498 nm corresponds to 3M% & 5M% doping of alkali metal.

3.6. NLO Studies

Second harmonic generation (SHG) test was performed on these crystals by Kurtz powder technique [26] with input radiation of 5.0 mJ/pulse. The Nd:YAG laser of 1064nm radiation was used as optical source and directed on powder sample filled in microcapillary tubes. The frequency doubling was confirmed with green radiation emission. The output SHG intensities for pure and doped samples give relative NLO efficiencies of the measured samples are tabulated below (Table 2) with Urea as reference sample. It is observed that enhancement of SHG efficiency with dopant and found that SGH efficiency is concentration dependent. Many materials have been identified with higher molecular non-linearity, the attainment of SHG effects requires favorable alignments of the molecule within the crystal structure which can be achieved facilitating nonlinearity in the presence of solvent [27] . The SGH can be enhanced by attaining the molecular alignment through inclusion complexation [28] . It is reported that enhancement in crystalline perfection could lead to the increase in NLO efficiency [29] .

3.7. Dielectric Studies

The Dielectric measurements were done on pure and NaCl doped KHP crystals using Impendence analysis Interface LCR meter Model PSM 1735 N4L. Dielectric permittivity measurements were carried out for silver pasted pure and doped samples for electrical contact at room temperature for different frequencies. The dielectric constant have been calculated using the equation where d is the thickness of the sample, A is the area of the sample. Measurements are made in the frequency in the range 1000 Hz to 35 MHz. The variations of dielectric constant with frequency for pure and doped samples are shown in the Figure 7. It is observed that, at low frequencies values of ϵ_r were maximum and decreased with increasing frequency and attains saturation at higher frequencies. The high value of dielectric constant of the crystal at low frequency is due to space charge polarization [30] [31] . According to the Miller rule, the lower value of dielectric constant at higher

frequencies is a suitable parameter for enhancement of SHG coefficient [32] . The variation of dielectric constant is due to the incorporation of dopant inside the KHP crystal lattice and also lower value for higher concentration of dopant with frequency suggests that the crystal possess enhanced optical quality with lesser defects and this property plays important role for the optoelectronic devices [33] .

4. Conclusion

Single crystals of pure and NaCl doped Potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHP) have been grown by slow evaporation technique at room temperature. The powder X-ray diffraction studies confirmed the incorporation of sodium ions into the crystal lattice of KHP and also calculated lattice parameters. The FT-IR spectral analysis confirms presence of functional groups of KHP. TG-DTA analysis showed that the crystals were stable upto melting point without any decomposition. The UV-visible spectra show that pure & doped crystals have good optical transmittance in the entire visible region which is desirable property for opto-electronics. The powder SHG test confirms the NLO property of pure and doped KHP crystals. The dielectric studies of all samples show that dielectric constant decreases slowly with increasing frequency and attains saturation at higher frequencies.

Cite this paper

R. K.Raju,S. M.Dharamaprakash,H. S.Jayanna, (2015) Effect of NaCl Doping on Growth, Characterization, Optical and Dielectric Properties of Potassium Hydrogen Phthalate (KHP) Crystals. Advances in Materials Physics and Chemistry,05,399-407. doi: 10.4236/ampc.2015.510040

References

NOTES

^*Corresponding author.