Microstructural and non-linear optical properties of hot-pressed ethoxy methoxy chalcone (EMC)

Abstract

The Chalcone derivative, ethoxy methoxy chalcone (EMC), has been prepared by the condensation of paraethoxybenzaldehyde and paramethoxyacetophenone. The NMR and X-ray powder diffraction studies confirm the formation of the compound. It was hot-pressed under various hot-pressing conditions and optimised to yield near-transparent samples. The X-ray diffraction patterns obtained for the hot-pressed samples are consistent with that of the starting material. The microstructural characteristics of these samples have been studied as a function of the hot-pressing conditions. The avarage size of the crystallite has been found to increase on annealing at 80°C. The dielectric property has been found to depend on the microstructural characteristics of the hot-pressed samples. The second harmonic generation (SHG) studies have been carried out using the 1064 nm radiation of a Nd:YAG laser. The SHG efficiency of these samples has been found to vary as a function of the hot-pressing conditions.