Structural, optical and electrical studies on amino acid based new GBC crystals having non linear optical response

Transparent crystals of α-glycine with barium nitrate and calcium nitrate (GBC) have been grown from aqueous solution by slow evaporation technique at room temperature. Crystals of size 22 × 25 × 4 mm3 have been obtained in 3-4 weeks time. The solubility of GBC has been determined in water. The grown crystal belongs to orthorhombic system with cell parameters a = 12.7321 A.U, b = 13.7752 A.U and c = 8.6002 A.U with unit cell volume of 1508.36 (A.U)3. Comparative IR and Raman studies indicate a molecule with a lack of center of symmetry. A wide transparency window useful for optoelectronic applications is indicated by the UV Studies. Using Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm), the optical second harmonic generation (SHG) conversion efficiency of GBC is found to be 0.702 times than that of standard KDP. On exposure to light the GBC crystals exhibit positive photoconductivity. I-V characteristics, dielectrics studies, electrical and Vickers micro hardness measurement have been carried out. The GBC crystal exhibits more mechanical strength compared to the reported GSN crystals.