Crystal growth, structural, optical, dielectric and thermal studies of an amino acid based organic NLO material: l-Phenylalanine l-phenylalaninium malonate

Good transparent single crystals of l-phenylalanine l-phenylalaninium malonate (LPPMA) have been grown successfully by slow evaporation technique from aqueous solution. Single crystal X-ray diffractometer was utilized to measure unit cell parameter and to confirm the crystal structure. The chemical structure of compound was established by FT-NMR technique. The vibrational modes of the molecules of elucidated from FTIR spectra. Its optical behaviour has been examined by UV–vis spectral analysis, which shows the absence of absorbance in the visible region. Thermal properties of the LPPMA crystal were carried out by thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) techniques, which indicate that the material does not decompose before melting. The melting point of grown crystal was observed as 180 °C by melting point apparatus. The NLO property was confirmed by the powder technique of Kurtz and Perry. The dielectric behaviour of the sample was also studied for the first time.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► The chemical structure of compound was established by FT-NMR technique. ► SHG efficiency of LPPMA is 0.38 times than that of KDP crystal. ► The optical cut-off wave length for this crystal was observed at 233 nm. ► LPPMA crystal is a potential candidate for device fabrication.