Growth and Characterization of a New Organic Non-Linear Optical (NLO) Material: L-Histidinium Trifluoroacetate

A new organic nonlinear optical (NLO) material L-Histidinium trifluoroacetate was crystallized using LHistidine and trifluoroacetic acid in 1:1 stoichiometric ratio in water-ethanol medium. X-ray diffraction analysis of the single crystals showed that they belong to triclinic system, space group P1, with two molecules per unit cell. The lattice parameters are a = 5.1673(2) , b = 8.8393(3) , c = 12.4837(6) , α = 96.190(3)°, β= 100.020(3)° and γ =102.010 (3)°. The molecules are held together by a three-dimensional network of hydrogen bonds. The crystalline perfection was studied by high resolution X-ray diffraction. The second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency was measured by Kurtz and Perry method. The FTIR, UV-Vis-NIR spectra and TGA/DTA were recorded and studied. Vickers microhardness measurement was also carried out.