Synthesis, crystal growth and characterization of a chiral compound (triphenylphosphine oxide cadmium iodide): A new semiorganic nonlinear optical material

Synthesis of semiorganic material, triphenylphosphine oxide cadmium iodide (TPPOCdI), is reported for the first time. Employing the temperature reduction method, a crystal of size 16×7×6 mm3 was grown from dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution. Three dimensional crystal structure of the grown crystal was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The complex crystallizes in the chiral orthorhombic space group P212121. FTIR study was carried out in order to confirm the presence of the functional groups. UV–vis–NIR spectral studies show that the crystal is transparent in the wavelength range of 290–1100 nm. The microhardness test was carried out, and the load hardness was measured. Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses reveal the thermal stability of the crystal. Second harmonic generation efficiency of the powdered TPPOCdI, tested using Nd: YAG laser, is ∼0.65 times that of potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate.