Synthesis, growth and characterization of a new nonlinear optical material: 4-Phenylpyridinium hydrogen squarate (4PHS)

A novel organic non-linear optical organic single crystal of 4-phenylpyridinium hydrogen squarate (4PHS) has been synthesized and successfully grown from aqueous solutions by slow evaporation solution growth method. In the present investigation the title compound has been synthesized by taking equimolar quantity of 4-phenylpyridine and squaric acid and mixed thoroughly using double distilled water as the solvent. The prepared concentrated solution was placed in an undisturbed condition, and then the solution was periodically inspected. The good quality single crystals have been harvested in a time span of 3 weeks. Then the grown crystal was characterized as single crystal XRD, differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, FTIR, UV–vis-NIR, SHG, 1H NMR and 13C NMR analyses, respectively. The observed results from the characterization analyses show its suitability for NLO applications when compared with some of the existing organic crystals. The relative second harmonic generation of this grown crystal was found to be five times higher than that of KDP crystal. The UV cut-off wavelength and decomposition temperature of this grown crystal were also comparatively better. 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopic studies were employed to elucidate the structure of the grown specimen.