Crystal growth, crystal structure and physical properties of lithium sulfamate Li[NH2SO3]

Large single crystals of the polar lithium sulfamate, Li[NH 2 SO 3 ], were grown from aqueous solution. The crystal structure was determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction data (space group: Pca2 (Nr. 29), a = 16.253(2) A, b = 5.0529(3) A, c = 8.2469(7) A, R = 0.019). Precise refractive indices were measured in the wavelength region between 0.36 μm and 1.53 μm. Above λ ≃ 0.85 μm, Li[NH 2 SO 3 ] shows optic uniaxial behaviour. A phase-matched optical second harmonic generation is not possible. Measurements of temperature dependence of thermal expansion and of main birefringences Δn (i) have given no hints for structural phase transitions in the investigated temperature region (from -130 °C to +25 °C).