Probing optical (2nd and 3rd order), mechanical and thermal traits of L-arginine hydrochloride monohydrate (LAHCM) NLO crystal for optoelectronics device applications

Abstract

A semiorganic nonlinear optical crystal L-arginine hydrochloride monohydrate (LAHCM) has been successfully grown by slow evaporation technique using deionized water as a solvent in a period of 45 days. The monoclinic crystal system with space group P21 was confirmed through single crystal XRD analysis. Optical, mechanical, thermal and surface qualities have been analyzed using the Kurtz-Perry technique, Z-scan technique, microhardness test, TGA/DTA, and etching analysis. The SHG efficiency of LAHCM was determined as 1.077 times greater than KDP crystal. From Z-scan technique, the nonlinear refractive index (n2) [1.06 × 10-15m2/W], absorption coefficient (β) [2.424 × 10−10 m/W], and third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility (χ3) [4.788 × 10-14esu] were calculated. The thermal stability of LAHCM crystal was determined as 121 °C from TG/DT analysis. LAHCM belongs to the hard category material that was confirmed from the microhardness study. The surface nature was analyzed by etching studies in different time periods.