Growth and Characterization of Lithium Potassium Phthalate (LiKP) Single Crystals for Third Order Nonlinear Optical Applications

Single crystals of lithium potassium phthalate (LiKP) were successfully grown from aqueous solution by solvent evaporation technique. The grown crystals were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The lithium potassium phthalate $C_{16}\;H_{12}\;K\;Li_3\;O_{11}$ belongs to triclinic system with the following unit-cell dimensions at 298(2) K;$a=7.405(5){\AA}$;$b=9.878(5){\AA}$;$c=13.396(5){\AA}$;${\alpha}=71.778(5)^{\circ}$;${\beta}=87.300(5)^{\circ}$;${\gamma}=85.405(5)^{\circ}$; having a space group P1. Mass spectrometric analysis provides the molecular weight of the compound and possible ways of fragmentations occurs in the compound. Thermal stability of the crystal was also studied by both simultaneous TGA/DTA analyses. The UV-Vis-NIR spectrum shows a good transparency in the whole of Visible and as well as in the near IR range. Third order nonlinear optical studies have also been studied by Z-scan technique. Nonlinear absorption and nonlinear refractive index were found out and the third order bulk susceptibility of compound was also estimated. The results have been discussed in detail.