Growth, structure and optical properties of an efficient NLO crystal-aqua maleatocopper(II)

A promising non-linear optical (NLO) crystal, aqua maleatocopper(II) (CuC4H2O4·H2O), was grown at room temperature by the controlled ionic diffusion technique. Fourier transform infrared spectrum could identify the various functional groups in the crystal. Structural analysis using single crystal XRD revealed that the compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system with space group P21 and unit cell parameters a=7.7277(5)Å, b=5.2967(3)Å, c=7.7179(4)Å, α=γ=109.170(5)°, β=111.995(2)°. The thermal stability and decomposition pattern of the material were explored using thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The optical band gap energy of the material was estimated as 2.2eV from the diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The Kurtz and Perry powder technique established the crystal to be an efficient non-linear optical (NLO) material.