Growth, structural, optical and thermal properties of γ-glycine crystal

Single crystals of γ-glycine were grown from a mixture of glycine, water and lithium bromide. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the growth of γ-glycine phase. Presence of various functional groups of γ-glycine was identified by FTIR spectrum. Optical absorbance spectrum recorded in the wavelength range of UV–vis–NIR revealed that this crystal has good optical transparency in the range 250–1500 nm. Vickers microhardness values were estimated on the prominent (1 0 0) face. Thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetric analyses were carried out to study the thermal properties of γ-glycine. Second harmonic generation efficiency of the crystal measured by Kurtz's powder method using Nd:YAG laser is about three times that of KDP.