Growth and characterisation of phosphate mixed ZTS single crystals

The growth of zinc tris (thiourea) sulfo-phosphate, ZTSP, single crystals from aqueous solution by a low temperature solution growth technique is reported. ZTSP crystals were grown by partial substitution of sulfate with phosphate. The growth was carried out for different mol.% of phosphate and the incorporation of phosphate in the grown crystals was quantified by ICP analysis. The incorporation of phosphate in the grown crystals was qualitatively analysed from FTIR studies. Morphological changes have been observed for the crystals grown at different mol.% of phosphate. Absorption spectra taken for the pure and phosphate mixed ZTS crystals reveal that the phosphate mixed ZTS crystal may be a better nonlinear optical (NLO) material for second harmonic generation (SHG). The Vicker’s microhardness number was found to increase with phosphate substitution.