Systematic investigation and comparison of oxalic acid dihydrate, ammonium oxalate hydrate and ammonium hydrogen oxalate oxalic acid dihydrate single crystals

Abstract

Semiorganic crystals are hybrid materials that have captured the interest of researchers due to their improved material characteristics and applications. In the current work, single crystals of oxalic acid dihydrate (OAD), Ammonium oxalate hydrate (AHO), and Ammonium hydrogen oxalate oxalic acid dihydrate (AHOOD) were grown using a slow evaporation method. Single crystal and powder XRD measurements were carried out to elucidate their unit cell parameters, crystal system, and structural information. To comprehend the interplay of light and matter, optical investigations like UV–Vis Spectroscopy and photoluminescence studies were performed. Interaction of ammonium with oxalic acid, and thus formed crystals, was investigated using impedance spectroscopy. Detailed dielectric parameters such as dielectric constant, dielectric loss, impedance, conductivity, and electric modulus were explored as a function of frequency. Vickers hardness test was used to calculate the hardness, Meyer's number, brittleness, and fracture toughness. The crystals were determined to be of the hard materials group. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.