Effect of L-asparagine as dopant on the growth and characteristics of ammonium tetroxalate dihydrate single crystal

Single crystals of L-asparagine doped ammonium tetroxalate dihydrate were grown using slow evaporation solution growth technique with deionized water as a solvent. The shift and intensity of the peaks in the single crystal X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared analyses confirmed the inclusion of L-asparagine in the ammonium tetroxalate dihydrate crystal structure. The optical transmission characteristics viz. optical band gap, optical conductivity, etc., were determined. Thermal studies revealed the occurrence of anomalies at 135.3 °C and 221.7 °C leading to the possibility of phase transitions and thereby, ferroelectric behavior. Vickers microhardness studies enabled determination of various microhardness parameters. Dielectric behavior was analyzed by varying the temperature and frequency. Anomalies were observed at 135 °C and 221 °C suggesting the existence of ferroelectric nature of the compound. Self-defocusing effect was observed. The polarization-electric field hysteresis loops showed a pinched effect due to defects induced by inclusion of dopant. The crystals were characterized by single crystal XRD, FT-IR, DRS, UV-Vis-NIR, Vickers microhardness test as well as thermal and dielectric techniques. In brief, L-asparagine as a dopant in ammonium tetroxalate dihydrate altered various physical properties of the crystals. They were highly transparent in the visible region with a wider optical band gap, softer material than the parent, higher phase transition temperature of 135 °C, negative nonlinearity and self-defocusing ability.