Studies of the structural and third-order nonlinear optical properties of solution grown 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-4′-N′-methylstilbazolium tosylate monohydrate crystals

An organic nonlinear optical crystal, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-4'-N'-methylstilbazolium tosylate monohydrate (VMST) was grown from methanol:water mixed solvent by slow cooling method. The crystal structure, morphology, composition and melting point of grown crystals were studied through single crystal X-ray diffraction, infrared spectrum and differential scanning calorimetry analyses respectively. The crystalline perfection of grown crystal was evaluated by high-resolution X-ray diffractometry. The cut-off wavelength, optical transmission, refractive index and band gap energy of grown crystal were determined from UV-Visible spectral analysis. The photoluminescence spectral study revealed the transition mechanism of ions. The self-focusing Z-scan technique and degenerate four wave mixing technique have been employed to observe the third-order nonlinear optical property of the grown crystal. The surface laser damage threshold value of VMST crystal was measured by using Nd:YAG laser. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.