Synthesis, growth, structural, optical, spectral, thermal and mechanical studies of 4-methoxy 4-nitrostilbene (MONS): A new organic nonlinear optical single crystal

4-Methoxy 4-nitrostilbene (MONS), a new organic nonlinear optical material has been synthesized. Based on the solubility data good quality single crystal with dimensions up to 38 x 11 x 3 mm(3) has been grown by slow evaporation method using ethyl methyl ketone (MEK) as a solvent. Powder XRD confirms the crystalline property and also the diffraction planes have been indexed. The lattice parameters for the grown MONS crystals were determined by using single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and it reveals that the crystal lattice system is triclinic. The crystalline perfection of the grown crystals has been analysed by high resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) rocking curve measurements. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum for powdered MONS sample confirms the functional groups present in the grown crystal. The UV-vis absorption spectrum has been recorded in the range of 190-1100 nm and the cut off wavelength 499 nm has been determined. The optical constants of MONS have been determined through UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy. The MONS crystals were further subjected to other characterizations. i.e., H-1 NMR, TG/DTA, photoluminescence and microhardness test. The Kurtz and Perry powder technique confirms the NLO property of the grown crystal and the SHG efficiency of MONS was found to be 1.55x greater than that of KDP crystal. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.