Growth, microhardness, dielectric and photoconductivity studies on NPNaLi: A promising crystal for NLO applications

Single crystals of nonlinear optical sodium substituted lithium p-nitrophenolate trihydrate (NPNaLi·3H2O) have been grown successfully by slow solvent evaporation technique. The grown crystals are subjected to powder X-ray diffraction, microhardness, dielectric and photoconductivity studies. NLO activity of the crystal is found to be increased in the presence of sodium ions. Microhardness on (1 1 0) and (1 0 1) planes reveal the anisotropic behaviour in Vicker's hardness number. Dielectric constant is found to be less and independent at higher frequencies. Electrical conductivity and photoconductivity are found to be increasing in the presence of sodium in the lattice of NPLi. The results of SEM analysis also have been revealed.