Studies on the electrical, linear and nonlinear optical properties of Manganese mercury thiocyanate bis-dimethyl sulfoxide, an efficient NLO crystal

Manganese mercury thiocyanate bis-dimethyl sulfoxide (MMTD), a novel organo-metallic nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal, was grown by a slow evaporation technique over a period of 30 days. The grown crystal was subjected to single crystal X-ray diffraction to determine the unit cell parameters. The optical properties of MMTD were investigated by UV-Vis-NIR, FTIR and FT-Raman spectroscopic techniques. The second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency of the sample was measured using a Q-switched, mode-locked Nd:YAG laser and the results were compared with urea and manganese mercury thiocyanate (MMTC). The thermal parameters, such as the thermal diffusivity (alpha), thermal effusivity (e), thermal conductivity (k) and heat capacity (c(p)) of MMTD were measured by the photopyroelectric (PPE) technique and the results are discussed. The dielectric response and mechanical properties of MMTD have also been investigated and reported. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.