Gamma ray-irradiated induced effects on SCN ligand-based MMTC single crystals for optoelectronic applications synthesized by SR method

Nonlinear optical organometallic single crystal of manganese mercury thiocyanate (MMTC) has been grown by SR method in aqueous solution. The grown MMTC crystals are irradiated by gamma ray 10 kGy and 20 kGy. The lattice parameters and the crystal system are confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The structural purity of grown MMTC single crystal has been examined by high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HR-mXRD) at room temperature. Fourier transform infrared—FTIR spectral analyses for unirradiated and irradiated crystals identify the functional groups present in synthesized compound. Scanning electron microscopy—SEM analysis reveals that the surface of the crystal has minor defects and few dislocations. The UV–Visible spectra reveal an increase in the optical absorption with increase in gamma dose in MMTC crystal. The optical band gap is estimated and found to decrease with increase in gamma dose. Fluorescence studies reveal that the compound shows emission spectra with green and blue fluorescence for MMTC specimens. Detailed dielectric measurements have been carried out and the dielectric constant is calculated.