Growth and Etching Studies of Cadmium Mercury Thiocyanate Single Crystals Grown by Gel Technique

Single crystals of Cadmium mercury thiocyanate CdHg(SCN)4, a bimetallic thiocyanate complex material have been grown in silica gel using gel technique by the process of diffusion. Colourless transparent crystals of size 10mm x 3.1mm x 3.2mm have been obtained. The grown crystals were subjected to single crystal X-ray diffraction and high resolution X- ray diffraction studies. The crystal structure belongs to tetragonal system. Etching studies were made on the grown crystal to analyze the structural imperfection of the crystal. The Second harmonic generation efficiency of the grown crystal has been determined using Kurtz powder technique in comparison with Urea. Its efficiency is found to be 6.2 times greater than that of Urea.