The powder X-ray diffraction analysis of SAPB was recorded by using a powder X-ray diffractometer with CuKα₁ radiation (λ = 1.5460 m). Figure 2 shows the powder X-ray diffraction pattern that confirms the crystalline nature of the grown crystal [15] [16] [17] [18]. From the spectrum, it is observed that the peaks are turned up in between 10' - 60' degrees. From the above investigation, we can propose that the grown crystal is a combination of reflections from (110), (011), (020), (111), (210) and (131) diffraction planes, which appeared at the 2θ of 16.54, 19.06, 22.28, 23.38, 28.52 and 39.79 respectively, the sharp and prominent peak at 19.06 is assigned to the (001) crystal plane of SAPB. The high intensity and low full width half maxima of the peaks confirm the good crystalline nature of the crystal.

The single crystal XRD studies are carried out with more dependable information on lattice parameters as compared to the powder XRD studies. The apt size of a single crystal was selected for the XRD analysis and to evaluate the cell parameters [19]. The SCXRD result declares that benzophenone doped with sodium acid phthalate crystal belongs to the monoclinic crystal system [20]. The unit cell dimensions and X-ray intensity data of SAPB were founded using Bruker D8 Venture Scxrd equipped with MoKα radiation (λ = 0.71073 Å). The single crystal XRD result revealed that lithium benzophenone doped Sodium acid phthalate crystal belongs to the monoclinic system with a space group of B2cb having non-centro symmetry. The obtained lattice parameters are shown in Table 1.

FTIR spectroscopy is an effective tool to identify and confirm a compound by analyzing the functional groups present within the spectrum. The molecular interactions between the reagents can be well explained by examining different modes of vibrations [21] - [28]. The spectrum of synthesized material, SAPB is recorded in the region of 4000 and 500 cm⁻¹ and is depicted in Figure 3. The frequency of 350.10 cm⁻¹ is due to OH overtones of the water molecule. The characteristic stretching vibrations of CH₂ are observed at 2854.21 cm⁻¹ and 2454.23 cm⁻¹. The peaks obtained at 1598.42 cm⁻¹ and 1626.01 cm⁻¹ are due to C=O stretching of the COO group. The aromatic ring structure of the SAPB occurs at 1571.15 cm⁻¹ and aromatic amine stretching at 1297.06 cm⁻¹. The NH bonding vibration occurs at 1626.01 cm⁻¹. The skeletal vibrations of the aromatic ring of benzophenone were observed at 1598.42 cm⁻¹ and 1571.15 cm⁻¹. The vibrations proved the presence of expected functional groups in the synthesized compound.

The grown crystal of benzophenone doped sodium acid phthalate dissolved in distilled water was subjected to spectral studies within 200 - 1200 nm wavelength range using Varian Cary 5E-UV spectrometer. The optical transmittance range and lower cut-off wavelength of a single crystal are vital factors for optical applications. The obtained optical transmittance and absorption spectrum are shown in Figure 4(a) and Figure 4(b). The absorption and transmission spectra help us to identify the nature of the molecule by analyzing the transition of electrons in σ and π orbital’s between the ground state and higher excited states with the energy absorbed [29] [30]. The SAPB single crystal showed 93% in the entire visible region with the cut-off wavelength of 277 nm. The spectrum indicates that the crystal to be used as a promising aspirant for a higher order of non-linear optical generations and terahertz applications.

The property of electronic optical band gap energy can be well exploited in the fields of terahertz generation and electro optical device applications [31] [32] [33]. The absorption coefficient α can be determined from the transmission spectrum based on the relation,

α = 2.303 log ( 1 T ) t (1)

where, α is the absorption coefficient, T is the transmittance and t is the thickness of the crystal. The band gap was estimated from the transmission spectrum and the optical absorption coefficient α near the absorption edge was calculated using the relation,

h γ α = A ( h γ − E g ) 1 / 2 (2)

In this equation A is a constant, E_g is electronic band gap energy, h is plank’s constant, γ is frequency of the incident photon. Hence the optical band gap energy can be calculated from the Tau’s plot between (hγα)² and the photon

energy hγ (eV) as exhibited in Figure 5. Then, by extrapolating the linear portion of Tauc’s plot to the axis αhγ = 0, the value for optical band gap can be obtained [34] [35] [36] [37]. The band gap of SAPB crystal estimated by extrapolation of the linear part of the graph is 4 eV. The band gap and transmittance in the entire visible region enables the crystal suitable for optoelectronic and photonic applications.

Fluorescence study is a prominent instrument to decide the actual properties of a material at the molecular level, including crystallinity and purity. The fluorescence spectrum was interpreted for SAPB crystal using Varian Cary Eclipse Fluorescence Spectrometer at room temperature. The fluorescence discharge range was recorded in the scope of 500 to 850 nm, shown in Figure 6. The SAPB crystal showed a strong yellow emission peak at 574 nm and the red emission at 631 nm are identified [38] [39] [40]. A higher power ratio in the luminescence spectrum is an evidence of better purity, crystallinity, and structural perfection of the SAPB crystal; hence this semiorganic molecule with promising fluorescence emission can be exploited for NLO applications.

The mechanical properties of the crystal are very important for the practical device fabrication. The transparent SAPB single crystals free from cracks, with flat and smooth faces are chosen for static indentation Vickers microhardness test. In the present study, the applied loads (P) are 25 g, 50 g and 100 g respectively and indentation time is fixed 10 s for all indentations. For each load, the average of two diagonal lengths (d) of the indentation mark was measured with the help of calibrated micrometer attached to a metallographic microscope. The Vickers

hardness number (H_v) value was calculated from the formula, H_v = 1.8544(P/d²) Kg/mm² where d is the diagonal length of the impression in mm and P is the applied loads in Kg. As a function of applied load (P), the change in microhardness value H_v and the plot of logd vs. logP are shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8 respectively. Further, the microhardness value increase of load and it is in agreement with the reverse indentation size effect [41] [42]. For above 100 g of applied load, micro cracks were observed due to the release of internal stress generated because of indentation process. The “n” vale was calculated by using Mayer’s law given by following relation P = Adⁿ where A is constant value and n is the work hardening co-efficient. The Mayer’s graph is shown in Figure 8. The

work hardening co-efficient (n) of the SAPB crystal has been determined from the slope of the straight line and it is found to be 4.56. According to Onitsch and Hanneman the value of n comes out to be 1 - 1.6 for hard materials and more than 1.6 for soft nature category. Hence, that grown SAPB single crystal belongs to the soft material category.

The non-linear optical activity of the grown crystal is investigated through the Kurtz-Perry powder method by performing out the SHG test. The frequency conversion effectiveness of material emphatically blends with the impurities, cationic deformities, and the intermolecular charge transfer interaction within the crystal lattice [43] [44]. The crystals are ground to powder and packed in a capillary tube and were exposed to the continuous wave mode bolted Q-switched Nd-YAG laser of fundamental wavelength 1064 nm delivering 10 ns laser pulses following a repetition rate of 10 Hz. The SHG behavior in these crystals was confirmed from the outflow of exceptional green radiation (λ = 532 nm) by the sample. The determined SHG efficiency of SAPB of crystal as 2 times superior to KDP crystal.