Growth, spectral, thermal, optical, mechanical and etching studies of l-lysine semi-maleate (l-LSM) single crystals

Organic nonlinear optical material, l-lysine semi-maleate (l-LSM) single crystals were grown by slow cooling solution growth technique. The crystal system of grown l-LSM was confirmed by single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction analyzes. Functional groups of the grown crystal have been identified by Fourier Transform Infrared spectral analysis. The proton and carbon NMR spectral studies confirm the presence of hydrogen and carbon in the grown l-LSM. The melting and thermal decomposition temperatures of the crystal were determined using thermogravimetric (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses. Optical transparency, second harmonic generation efficiency, micro hardness, dielectric constant and loss, refractive index and birefringence have also been measured. Further, the growth patterns and dislocations present in the grown crystal are studied.