Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 December 2011
Crystals of N-acetyl-L-cysteine have been grown by slow evaporation solution growth technique using water as solvent. Cell parameters of the crystals were confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction. Functional groups were identified and their vibrational activity was studied by investigating the FTIR spectrum. Decomposition nature of the grown material was studied in thermal analysis. Transparent nature of the crystal in UV-VIS-NIR region was examined by optical absorption spectrum. Frequency conversion process was tested and the title crystal has two times larger relative second harmonic conversion efficiency compared to the standard KDP. Static and dynamic values of first-order hyperpolarizability were calculated and also the electronic excitation mechanism was analyzed.