Remarkable enhancement in dielectric, piezoelectric, ferroelectric and SHG properties by iron doping in sodium para-nitrophenolate dihydrate single crystals

Pure and iron doped (0.2 mol%) sodium para-nitrophenolate dihydrate (SPNPD and FSPNPD) non-linear optical single crystals were grown by slow evaporation technique. Structural characterizations have been carried out using SXRD and PXRD and analyses. EDAX analysis confirmed the incorporation of iron into the host crystal lattice SPNPD. Various functional groups in both crystals were identified by FTIR analysis. Optical properties of doped crystal have been preserved. Dielectric analysis revealed that dielectric constant value increases with decrease in dielectric loss on doping. The Piezoelectric charge coefficient d(33) of doped crystal was found to be about 10 times (2.24 to 24 pC/N) larger than that of pure crystal which make it a better candidate for piezoelectric devices applications. The incorporation of iron also increases the SHG efficiency of SPNPD crystals. In hysteresis loop, coercive field was decreased significantly, as a result of doping. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.