Crystalline perfection of 2-amino-5-nitropyridinium dihydrogenphosphate-arsenate hybrid crystals for non-linear optical properties

Abstract

We report on the optimisation of the crystal growth conditions of two hybrid organic-inorganic materials for non-linear optical applications. Joint studies of experimental growth conditions, crystal quality and optical transmission have shown that extended defects observed by X-ray diffraction topography in the first generation of the 2-amino-5-nitropyridinium dihydrogenphosphate and arsenate phases are directly linked to the presence of organic impurities. By enhancing the purity of the starting materials and the stability of the growth solutions we have achieved a high crystalline quality and an extreme transparency.