The Scientific World JournalVolume 2012 (2012), Article ID 620189, 7 pagesdoi:10.1100/2012/620189

Research Article

An Optical Overview of Poly[-L-alanine--nitrato-sodium(I)] Crystals

E. Gallegos-Loya,¹ E. Orrantia-Borunda,² and A. Duarte-Moller²

¹Universidad Tecnológica de la Zona Metropolitana de Guadalajara Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, Jaisco, Mexico²Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, S. C., Miguel de Cervantes 120, Complejo Industrial Chihuahua, 31109 Chihuahua, CHIH, Mexico

Received 11 October 2011; Accepted 8 December 2011

Academic Editor: Vinoy Thomas

Copyright © 2012 E. Gallegos-Loya et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Single crystals of the semiorganic materials, L-alanine sodium nitrate (LASN) and D-alanine sodium nitrate (DASN), were grown from an aqueous solution by slow-evaporation technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies were carried for the doped grown crystals. The absorption of these grown crystals was analyzed using UV-Vis-NIR studies, and it was found that these crystals possess minimum absorption from 200 to 1100 nm. An infrared (FTIR) spectrum of single crystal has been measured in the 4000–400 cm⁻¹ range. The assignment of the observed vibrational modes to corresponding symmetry type has been performed. A thermogravimetric study was carried out to determine the thermal properties of the grown crystal. The efficiency of second harmonic generation was obtained by a variant of the Kurtz-Perry method.

1. Introduction

Some organic compounds exhibit large NLO response, in many cases, orders of magnitude largest than widely known inorganic materials. They also offer the flexibility of molecular design and the promise of virtually an unlimited number of crystalline structures [1–3]. A number of such crystals, especially from the amino acids family, have recently been reported [4–8]. Some crystals of the amino acids with simple inorganic salts appear to be promising materials for optical second harmonic generation (SHG) [9].

The amino acids display specific features of interest, such as (i) molecular chirality, which secures acentric crystallographic structures; (ii) absence of strongly conjugated bonds, leading to wide transparency ranges in the visible and UV spectral regions; (iii) zwitterionic nature of the molecule, which favours crystal hardness [9]. Further to that, amino acids can be used (iv) as chiral auxiliaries for nitroaromatics and other donor-acceptor molecules with large hyperpolarizabilities and (v) as a basis for synthesizing organic-inorganic compounds [3].

A series of studies on semiorganic amino acid compounds such as L-arginine phosphate (LAP), L-arginine hydrobromide (L-AHBr), L-histidine tetrafluoroborate (L-HFB) [3], L-arginine hydrochloride (L-AHCl) [5], L-alanine acetate (L-AA) [6], and glycine sodium nitrate (GSN) [7, 10] as potential NLO crystals have been reported. L-alanine is an amino acid, and it forms a number of complexes on reaction with inorganic acid and salts to produce an outstanding material for NLO applications.

The compound poly[-L-alanine--nitrato-sodium(I)], [Na (NO₃) (C₃H₇NO₂)]n [10], was obtained as the product of an attempted reaction of sodium nitrate and the amino acid L-alanine in aqueous solution. In the present investigation, single crystals of poly[-L-alanine--nitrato-sodium(I)] and D-alanine sodium nitrate were grown and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and high resolution Raman, HR-Raman, spectroscopic studies, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DSC), UV-Vis-NIR spectral analysis, and second harmonic generation (SHG).

These compounds have medicinal features that cover a variety of important biological activities, such as the inhibition of specific enzymes or antiviral and antitumor activity [11, 12]. When used in combination with β-lactam antibiotics, polyoxotungstates enhance the antibiotic effectiveness against otherwise resistant strains of bacteria [13]. The heptamolybdate, in particular the [NH₃Pri]6[Mo7O24]·3H₂O, had shown a potent in vivo antitumor activity, which has been explained by repeated redox cycles of [Mo7O24]6 in the tumor cells [14].

The compounds, L-alanine sodium nitrate and D-alanine sodium nitrate, were obtained as the product by reaction of sodium nitrate and the amino acids L-alanine and D-alanine in aqueous solution. In the present investigation, single crystals were grown and characterized by X-ray diffraction powder, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic studies, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTA), UV-Vis-NIR spectral analysis, and the efficiency of second harmonic generation (SHG).

2. Experimental Details

The crystals obtained during the development of this work were grown by slow evaporation technique at room temperature through an aqueous solution. The reactive commercially available L-alanine and D-alanine C₃H₇NO₂ were used with stoichiometry Sigma-Aldrich lab with 98% purity and molecular weight 89.09 g/mol and the sodium nitrate NaNO₃ stoichiometry Sigma-Aldrich lab with 99.9% purity and molecular weight 84.99 g/mol. The samples were prepared 1 : 1 molar ratio in distilled water and constant agitation for 35 min and a temperature of 60°C. The evaporation time for the L-alanine sodium nitrate solution at room temperature was 45 days and 60 days for the D-alanine solution.

The Phillips Expert powder X-ray diffractometer with Cu Kα radiation () was used for the powder X-ray diffraction pattern. The sample was scanned in the values ranging from 10 to 60 degrees at the rate of 0.05°/min.

In order to analyze the presence of functional groups, FTIR spectrum was recorded in the range of 400 cm⁻¹ to 4000 cm⁻¹ using a MAGNO IR 750 series II NICOLET spectrometer. The samples were added to a matrix of KBr to perform this procedure.

The UV-Vis spectra give limited information about the structure of the molecule because the absorption of UV and visible light involves promotions of the electrons in the and orbitals from the ground sate to higher energy states. The transition spectra is very important for any NLO material because it can be of practical use only if it has a wide transparency window. NLO materials have a practical use only if they have a wide transparency state. To find this absorbance window, a Lambda 10 Perkin Elmer UV-Vis spectrometer was used. The scanning was done in the range of 200 to 1100 nm the same way as with the FTIR.

TGA/DSC was done in a TA Instruments STD 2960 Simultaneous TGA/DSC. The samples were heated from room temperature to more than 1000°C at rate of 10°C/min.

In order to find the SHG, the crystals were grown according to the Kurtz and Perry technique [9] into powder (about 70 μm) and densely packed between two transparent microscope glass slides [15, 16]. Once the samples were placed into the glass slides, a Nd:YAG Quanta ray INDI series laser of 1064 nm generating an 8 ns pulse and operated at 6 mJ/pulse and at rate of 10 Hz is pumped at the proper angle and distance in order to see SHG on green color (532 nm) that corresponds to the expected emitted light and it is the half wavelength of the incoming light.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. X-Ray Diffraction Analysis

The resultant peaks in the powder X-ray pattern displayed in Figure 1 shows an intense peak at 20.54°, which coincides with the plane (120) and the reflections of the planes (020), (110), (040), (140), (111), (220), (102), (131), (142), and (260), corresponding to the principal planes of the L-alanine present in the L-alanine sodium nitrate, where the planes (012) and (104) were identified with nitrate. The peaks appearing in the spectrum that have not been identified can be attributed to the formation of the L-alanine sodium nitrate compound. In both the L-alanine and D-alanine cases, the presence of an intense peak at 20.59° which coincides with the plane (120) and reflections from planes (020), (110), (011), (111), (210), (012), (220), (211), (230), and (241), corresponding to the principal planes of the D-alanine present in the D-alanine sodium nitrate, was identified. The planes (012), (104), (110), (113), and (122) were identified with nitrate. The peaks appearing in the spectrum that have not been identified can be attributed to the formation of the compound D-alanine sodium nitrate.

Figure 1: Powder X-ray diffractogram of L-alanine sodium nitrate (LASN) and D-alanine sodium nitrate (DASN).

3.2. Thermal Analysis

Figure 2 shows the TGA pattern of the LASN and DASN showing good stability below 220°C with a rapid dropping beyond that temperature [8, 17]. Also, Figure 2 shows the DSC pattern of LASN where an exothermic transition appears at about 230°C. Mean while, the pure presents another endothermic transition at 400°C [9, 17]. Within this temperature range, the possible NLO applications become promising due to the use of laser powers, for LASN and DASN performing below 230°C.

Figure 2: TGA and DSC curves of LASN and DASN.

3.3. FT-IR Study

In order to obtain the presence of functional groups, FTIR spectrum was recorded in the range of 400 cm⁻¹ to 4000 cm⁻¹ by using a MAGNO IR 750 series II Nicolet spectrometer.

The samples of L-Alanine sodium nitrate (LASN) and D-alanine sodium nitrate (DASN) were added to a matrix of KBr to perform this procedure as shown in Figure 3. The presence of the carboxyl acid group around 3000 cm⁻¹ can be observed due to the alanine presence. The main internal vibrations of alanine are observed on the functional groups (, CH₂, COO⁻) which is in agreement with the data reported before [9], symmetric and asymmetric bending vibrations were observed on the CH₃ groups for LASN and DASN at 2987 and 1454 cm⁻¹. The peak at 2599 and 2601 cm⁻¹ is a symmetrical stretching CH to LASN and DASN, respectively. The 1151, 1218, and 1236 cm⁻¹ frequencies are attributed to the rocking deformation of the group [5]. Furthermore, the peak 1048 cm⁻¹ is a symmetrical stretching of CCN group.

Figure 3: FTIR spectrum of LASN and DASN.

Other low frequency bands are typical for N–H⋯O hydrogen bonds arising from the overtones around the 2727 cm⁻¹. The rest of the functional groups COO⁻, CN, and NO₃ between 500 and 1500 cm⁻¹ also agree with the reported data.

Usually, the presence of nitrates in the lattice can be identified by their characteristic signature in the ranges 1660–1625, 1300–1255, 870–833, and 763–690 cm⁻¹ [18]. Parent compound traces were identified in the synthesized compound. The presence of the NO₃ group in the LASN and DASN can be identified by the peaks at 1358, 1113, 849, and 771 cm⁻¹. The symmetric and asymmetric stretching vibrations appear at frequencies 2941 and 2110 cm⁻¹, respectively. The absorption peaks at 1613, 1584, and 1518 cm⁻¹ for LASN and 1614, 1585, and 1519 cm⁻¹ for DASN confirm the presence of NH₃ bending. The presence of nitro-groups in the spectrum confirms the LASN and DASN compounds. Other important functional groups are detailed in Table 1.

Table 1: FT-IR and Raman functional group assignments of the grown LASN and DASN.

RAMAN (cm⁻¹)
FTIR (cm⁻¹)
Assignments

LASN
DASN
LASN
DASN

3706

Overtone

3426

Overtone

3062
Symmetric CH₃ stretching

3000
3003

Asymmetric CH₃ stretching

2987

Symmetric CH₃ stretching

2964
2964

CH₂ stretching and asymmetric CH₃ stretching

2948

Symmetric CH₂ stretching

2941
2941
Symmetric NH₃ stretching

2936
2933

Asymmetric CH₂ stretching

2888
2888

CH₂ stretching

2734

Overtone

2728
2727
N–H⋯O and O–H⋯O stretching

2603

2601
Symmetric CH stretching

2599

Symmetric CH stretching

2512

2511
Overtone

2484

Overtone

2444
2442

Overtone

2251

CH₃ stretching

2123
2119

Overtone

2110
2110
Asymmetric NH₃ stretching

1939

Asymmetric NH₃ deformation

1775

Asymmetric COO stretching

1659

Asymmetric NH₃ deformation

1630

Asymmetric NH₃ deformation

1613
1614
NH₃ bending

1599
1596

Asymmetric NH₃ deformation

1584
1585
NH₃ bending

1571

Asymmetric COO⁻ stretching

1543

Overtone

1531

Symmetric NH₃ deformation

1518
1519
NH₃ bending

1503

CH₃ deformation

1496

Overtone

1486
1489

Asymmetric COO⁻ deformation

1466
1465

CβH₂ scissors mode

1454
1454
Asymmetric CH₃ bending

1422

CH₃ bending

1412
1411
1411
Symmetric C–COO⁻ stretching

1386

CH₃ puckering

1363
1366

Wagging CH₂ deformation

1358
1358
NO₃ stretching

1312

CH₂ wagging

1306

1306

C–H and N–H bending

1297
Flexed position CH₂

1235
1236
1236
rocking

1218
1218
rocking

1151
1150
1151
1151
rocking and symmetric COO⁻ stretching

1113
1112
1113
1113
NO₃ stretching

1070

Overtone

1050

1048
1048
Symmetric CCN stretching

1022
1027

CH₃ rocking

1012
1012
Overtone of torsional oscillation

926

NH₃ rocking

936

CH₂ rocking

918
919
Overtone of torsional oscillation

853
850

N–C stretching

849
847
NO₃ stretching

829
829
C–C stretching

774
774

OH deformation

771
771
NO₃ stretching

725

COO wagging

677
678
in plane deformation

651
646
647
COO⁻ in plane deformation

578
578
Overtone

3.4. Raman Spectroscopy

The Raman spectra was carried out at room temperature in frequency range 400–4000 cm⁻¹ by using a LabRAM H-R Raman microscope HORIBA system. The laser Raman spectrum, showing the presence of more intense peak around 850 cm⁻¹, is due to COO⁻ stretching mode of vibrations (see Figure 4). The peaks at 1113 and 1112 cm⁻¹ are assigned to NO₃ stretching.

Figure 4: Raman spectrum of LASN and DASN.

The C–H and N–H bending vibrations are observed at 1306 cm⁻¹ as a sharp peak. The asymmetric CH₃ bending at 1422 cm⁻¹ and O–H bending is around 950 cm⁻¹ [19]. The peak at 1411 cm⁻¹ is assigned to the symmetric stretching C–COO carboxyl group.

In Raman spectra of alanine, the symmetric and asymmetric deformation vibrations of the groups appear in the region between 1680 and 1470 cm⁻¹ [20]; in the spectrum L-alanine and D-alanine, we found in 1531 y 1939, 1659, 1630, 1599, 1596 cm⁻¹ frequency. The position of asymmetric stretching frequency indicates the formation of intra- and intermolecular strong N–H⋯O hydrogen bonding of the group, with the oxygen of both, the carbonyl group and inorganic nitrates [10, 21]. The study of symmetry stretching and stretching vibration of CH₂ group is observed in 2948 and 2964, 2888 cm⁻¹. The band around 1235, 1150, 1151, and 926 cm⁻¹ is also indicative of the NH₃ rocking modes. The peak at 1366 cm⁻¹ is a deformation of CH₂ group, at 1312 cm⁻¹ is attributed to the CH₂ wagging. The intensity varies upon the source used for analyzing the sample. Other important functional groups are detailed in Table 1.

3.5. UV-Vis Study

Figure 5 presents the absorbance zone above 250 nm (ultra-violet wavelength) where a wide band completely transparent in all the visible range is observed (infrared wavelengths) [9, 19, 22]. This means that this material presents a good nonabsorbance band in the visible range for expected applications. A little protuberance around the 300 nm is observed [7]. This little peak is still outside the visible zone (UV zone), and it could present some absorbance if the crystal was to be excited with 600 nm (red color) trying to obtain a second harmonic of 300 nm (UV color). Other noticeable characteristic in the absorption spectrum is a wide transparency window within the range of 400–1100 nm which is desirable for NLO crystals because the absorptions in an NLO material near the fundamental or second harmonic signals will lead to the loss of the conversion of SHG. Due to this property, LASN and DASN have potential uses for SHG using an Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) to emit a second harmonic signal within the green region (532 nm) of the electromagnetic spectra.

Figure 5: UV-Vis window of the LASN and DASN.

3.6. SHG Signal Detection

Figure 6 shows the data collected from the detector where the SHG signal is plotted versus the beam energy. This kind of experiments has been used in order to measure the damage threshold. In this case, the SHG intensity tends to increase when the beam energy is also increased. This experiment shows the good quality of these crystals for the second harmonic generation, but there is a better efficiency in the LASN sample.

Figure 6: Quadratic fit for the SHG intensity as function of the beam energy.

4. Conclusions

A new nonlinear optical semiorganic crystal, LASN, and DASN were grown by the slow evaporation technique from aqueous solution. Functional groups of good quality crystals of LASN and DASN have been detected by FTIR and Raman spectroscopies.

Also based on UV-Vis spectra observations, an absorption zone below the 250 nm (ultra-violet wavelengths) can be seen recovering a good transmittance values across all the visible range until near IR frequencies and beyond. This situation shows these crystals can be used for applications involving the band of visible light. The transparency of the crystal in the visible and infrared regions shown in transmission spectra confirms the NLO property of this.

Other characterization was the thermal response. The TGA/DSC results showed a degrading temperature about 230°C which promises to have good applications at high temperatures, revealing that the crystal is thermally stable until that temperature.

The SHG test is the first one performed in this kind of material, and it was observed that the SHG intensity tends to be directly proportional to the beam energy and follows a linear tendency with a positive slope which promises to be a good nonlinear optical material.

Finally, we conclude that we succeeded in obtaining good quality crystals of LASN and DASN, and, for the first time, the second harmonic generation was detected in this material which indicates that these crystals are new materials with nonlinear optical properties with potential applications.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the National Council of Science and Technology of Mexico for its financial support. Also, they thank the National Laboratory of Nanotechnology of CIMAV, S.C., Chihuahua, Mexico. The authors are very grateful to acknowledge M. Sci. Enrique Torres Moye (X-ray laboratory), M. Sci. Daniel Lardizabal (thermal analysis laboratory), Luis de la Torre (Uv-Vis analysis), and Leticia Alderete Ochoa for the grammar support.

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