Characterization of lead(II)chloride single crystals grown in silica gel

Acousto-optical materials play an important role in acousto-optic devices as acousto-optic modulators. Lead(II) chloride is an acousto-optical material, having high figure of merit approximately ten times greater than that of lead molybdate, which is an efficient acousto-optical material. It also possesses high birefringence, low attenuation coefficient, wide transparency range and good mechanical proper-ties. This paper discusses in detail, the growth of single crystals of lead(II) chloride in silica gel by the process of diffusion in a highly acidic medium. Needle-type lead(II) chloride crystals have been obtained. The crystal system is confirmed to be orthorhombic by powder X-ray diffraction analysis. To study the optical transparency of the grown crystal, the transmission spectrum has been recorded in the range 190 - 1100 nm. Thermal stability of the crystal is also studied. Results are discussed in detail. (C) 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.