Growth of Cu2+ and Mg2+ doped nonlinear optical LATF crystals and their characterization

Single crystals of pure, Cu2+ and Mg2+ doped l-arginine trifluoroacetate (LATF) have been grown by the temperature lowering method. The presence of Cu2+ and Mg2+ was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies were performed to calculate the lattice parameters of the pure and doped crystals. Absorption of these crystals was analyzed and the result confirms that they possess low absorption in the range 230–1100 nm. Thermal analysis (TGA, DTA) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were carried out to investigate the thermal behavior and molecular vibrations of these crystals, respectively. The second harmonic generation (SHG) measurement reveals the NLO properties of pure and doped crystal. Surface morphologies of these crystals were also observed and studied in detail by atomic force microscopy.