J Mater Sci Technol ›› 2009, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (06): 745-748.

Special Issue: 光电材料专辑

• Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Growth, Optical, Mechanical, Dielectric and Theoretical Studies on Potassium Pentaborate Tetrahydrate (KB5O8?4H2O) Single Crystal by Modified Sankaranarayanan-Ramasamy Method

C. Justin Raj1), S. Krishnan2), S. Dinakaran3), J. Mary Linet3), R. Uthrakumar3), R. Robert3), S. Jerome Das3)   

  1. 1) Department of Physics, FET, Saveetha University, Chennai-601206, India
    2) Department of Physics, RMK Engineering College, Kavaraipettai-602105, India
    3) Department of Physics, Loyola College, Chennai-600034, India
  • Received:2008-03-28 Revised:2008-12-06 Online:2009-11-28 Published:2009-11-24
  • Contact: S. Jerome Das

Abstract:

A nonlinear optical single crystal of potassium pentaborate tetrahydrate (KB5O8? 4H2O) has been grown from aqueous solution by using unidirectional crystal growth method of Sankaranarayanan-Ramasamy (SR) with a due modification in the growth assembly. Potassium pentaborate crystal of 60 mm length and 10 mm diameter has been grown along (100) plane with a growth rate of 3 mm per day within a period of 20 days. The grown crystal was subjected to single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis to confirm that the crystal belongs to the orthorhombic system. Some fundamental data such as valance electron plasma energy, Penn gap, Fermi energy and electronic polarizability of the grown crystal were calculated. The presence of borate in the grown crystal was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The optical transmission property of the grown crystal was analyzed using ultra violet (UV) visible spectral analysis. Surface morphology of the growth plane was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mechanical strength of the crystals was found out using Vickers microhardness test along the growth axis. Frequency dependent dielectric constant of the grown crystal was studied for various temperatures along (100) plane.

Key words: Crystal growth, Characterization, Nonlinear optic materials