A methodical investigation on the growth and characterization of a third-order nonlinear optical novel co-crystal of 8-hydroxyquinolinium phthalate: X-ray, Hirshfeld surface, optical, mechanical, thermal and DFT analysis

Abstract

A novel non-linear optical single crystal of 8-hydroxyquinolinium phthalate has been as-synthesised by a slow evaporation solution growth technique. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis affirms that it belongs to a monoclinic crystal system. While UV–visible spectroscopy shows its optical transparency with a direct band gap of 2.80 eV, a photoluminescence study confirms a principal yellow emission at 370 nm excitation. Furthermore, the mechanical and thermal properties along with the functional groups’ study have also been laid out in this paper. Intermolecular interactions present in the crystal are ascertained from Hirshfeld surface and fingerprint plot studies. The Z-scan technique has reportedly affirmed third harmonics generation in the same. Theoretical calculations using DFT modelling further testify to the experimental observations thereby laying out the framework of the mentioned crystal in terms of its optimized geometry, molecular electrostatic potential, frontier molecular orbital, natural bond orbital and natural population analysis along with vibrational assignments and UV absorption analysis.