Unidirectional growth of benzil crystal from solution by Sankaranarayanan–Ramasamy method and its characterization

Good quality 〈1 0 0〉 benzil single crystal with a diameter 18 mm and length 75 mm was successfully grown from solution by the unidirectional growth method of Sankaranarayanan–Ramasamy (SR) for the first time in the literature. The seed crystals have been harvested from conventional solution growth technique and subsequently used for unidirectional growth. The grown crystal was subjected to various characterization studies. The results of UV–vis spectral analysis, photoluminescence, etching and microhardness studies were compared with conventional solution grown crystal to that of SR method grown crystal. The quality of SR method grown benzil crystal is better than conventional solution grown crystal.

Graphical abstract.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Good quality <1 0 0> benzil single crystal (18 mm × 75 mm) was grown by SR method. ► 100% solute–crystal conversion efficiency is proposed in SR method. ► Solution growth method is a basic method to be tried because it is very simple. ► The microbial growth was avoided and the growth conditions were optimized. ► SR method crystals have good transparency and good hardness for device application.