Effect of rare earth Nd+ ion on the growth, structural, spectral, optical and mechanical properties of piperidinium p-hydroxybenzoate single crystals

Rare earth Nd+ ion doped piperidinium p-hydroxybenzoate (PPHB) crystal was grown from aqueous solution by slow evaporation solution growth method. The crystalline perfection of grown crystals was evaluated by using high resolution X-ray Diffractometer. The functional groups and the effect of moisture on the grown crystals were analyzed from FTIR spectral studies. Thermodynamic parameters such as activation energy, frequency factor, entropy, enthalpy and Gibbs energy were evaluated for purity and Nd+ ion doped PPHB crystals using TG-DTA data. UV-visible transmission studies of grown crystals show good transparency in the entire visible region. Photoluminescence, laser damage threshold and relative SHG optical properties of pure and Nd+ ion doped PPHB crystals were studied. Hardness value of Nd+ ion doped PPHB crystal on 01¯0 face is found to be higher than that of pure PPHB crystals. The etching studies have been performed to assess the perfection of the pure and Nd+ ion doped PPHB crystals.