Structural, mechanical, dielectric, thermal, and nonlinear optical properties of zinc-doped ninhydrin single crystals

In this study, slow evaporation method was used to develop various 0.4 (Z4N), 0.6 (Z6N), and 0.8 (Z8N) mole% of zinc nitrate-doped ninhydrin single crystals. The structural, mechanical, dielectric, thermal, and nonlinear optical properties of Z4N, Z6N, and Z8N single crystals were investigated. The crystal structures of the pure ninhydrin and the zinc-doped Z4N, Z6N, and Z8N single crystals were monoclinic with the P21 space group. The coefficients of work-hardening values were 4.85 (Z4N), 4.83 (Z6N), and 4.59 (Z8N). The decomposition temperatures of grown single crystal were approximately 261.04 °C. It was noted from photoluminescence studies that the emission intensity of the peaks slightly increased with the increase in zinc content. The dielectric behaviors of the prepared crystals were studied, and activation energy of the AC conduction was found to be 0.05–0.1 eV. The coefficient of second harmonic generation was ~ 1.3 times greater than that of potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate crystal.