Growth and characterization of non-linear optical L-hystidine tetrafluoroborate (L-HFB) single crystals

Single crystals of L-hystidine tetrafluoroborate (L-HFB) have been grown by low temperature solution growth technique. Solubility studies have been ca rried out for three different solvents (water, water + acetone and, water ethanol), Among the three solvents, the L-HFB has the highest solubility i n water and hence, crystals have been grown from aqueous solution. The grow n crystals have been subjected to single crystal and powder X-ray diffracti on studies to identify the morphology and structure. FTIR and optical trans mission spectra reveal the optical properties of the grown crystals. The NL O property of the crystal has been confirmed by Kurtz SHG test. Comparing t he output power, it has been confirmed that L-HFB crystals possess higher S HG efficiency than KDP. Microhardness studies carried out on different plan es show an anisotropy in the hardness behavior. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B .V. All rights reserved.