Synthesis and characterization of a new organic nonlinear optical crystal: L-phenylalaninium maleate.

l-Phenylalaninium maleate (abbreviated as LPM) chemical formula C(9)H(12)NO(2)(+).C(4)H(3)O(4)(-), a new organic nonlinear optical crystal was grown by slow evaporation technique. Transparent needle shaped crystal of dimensions 7mmx1mmx0.5mm was obtained. Single crystals of LPM have been subjected to X-ray diffraction analysis to estimate the lattice parameters and the space group. The powder X-ray diffractogram of the crystal has been recorded and the reflections from various planes are identified. The XRD studies confirm the crystalline nature. The qualitative analysis on the crystal has been carried out using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Fourier transform Raman (FTRaman) spectral measurements. The presence of hydrogen and carbon in the grown crystal was confirmed by using proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectral analyses. Optical behaviour of the crystal was investigated using UV-vis spectroscopy. The thermal stability of the crystal was analysed with the aid of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The nonlinear optical (NLO) property of the crystal was tested by Nd:YAG laser source.