Effect of metallic dopants on potassium acid phthalate (KAP) single crystals

Optically transparent single crystals of Cu2+ and Zn2+ doped potassium acid phthalate (KAP) were grown in aqueous solution by slow evaporation technique at room temperature. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the changes in the lattice parameters of the doped crystals. The presence of functional groups in the crystal lattice has been determined qualitatively by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. Optical absorption studies revealed that the doped crystals possess very low absorption in the entire visible region. The dielectric constant has been studied as a function of frequency for the doped crystals at temperatures viz., 328, 348, 368 K. Further the influence of metal dopants on the dielectric behaviour has been studied which clearly exhibited the ferroelectric properties of the crystal.