Single crystals of tetragonal RCuGa₃ (R=La, Pr, Nd and Gd), with BaNiSn₃ type structure (space group I4 mm), have been grown by high temperature solution growth technique using Ga as flux. Their magnetic properties were determined by heat capacity and the measurement of magnetization and electrical resistivity along [100] and [001] directions. Except LaCuGa₃, the compounds order magnetically. PrCuGa₃ undergoes a ferromagnetic transition with Curie temperature of 4.6 K. NdCuGa₃ shows a bulk magnetic transition at 3.3 K. The data on GdCuGa₃ indicate combined characteristics of spin glass and antiferromagnetic behavior at low temperatures. From the Schottky heat capacity data the crystal electric field level energy spectra have been determined. Further we have performed temperature dependent measurements of electron spin resonance (ESR) on GdCuGa₃ between 11 K and room temperature. The ESR data indicate an enhancement of magnetic fluctuations associated with spin reorientation and both homogeneous and inhomogeneous thermal broadening of the linewidth.

We report on a comprehensive study of the magnetization, resistivity and heat capacity on the single crystals of Ce₂RhGa₁₂ synthesized using Ga flux. Single crystal X-ray diffraction data confirm the tetragonal Pb/nbm structure of Ce₂RhGa₁₂, which is isostructural to Ce₂PdGa₁₂. Ce₂RhGa₁₂ orders antiferromagnetically at T_N = 3.5 K and exhibits anisotropic magnetic behavior, inferred from the magnetization and resistivity data, taken along the two principal crystallographic directions of the crystal, viz., along [100] and [001]. The anisotropic magnetic response of Ce₂RhGa₁₂ establishes [001] as the easy axis of magnetization, and a weak meta-magnetic transition is also observed in the magnetic isotherm at 2K along the same axis. A sharp peak in specific heat signals the bulk antiferromagnetic transition at T_N = 3.5 K, which shifts to lower temperatures in low applied fields. The electrical resistivity along the two directions shows metallic behavior from 300K down to 1.8K and establishes Ce₂RhGa₁₂ as a normal, trivalent cerium compound.

Single crystals of Ce₂RhGa₁₂ have been synthesized using Ga flux and their structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Ce₂RhGa₁₂ crystallizes in the tetragonal space group P4/nbm (No. 125), and is isostructural to Ce₂PdGa₁₂, with Z = 2 and lattice parameters a = 6.0405 Å and c = 15.706 Å. Data were collected at the Swiss Norwegian Beam Line at the European Synchrotron Facility, Grenoble, France. Laue diffraction was carried out to confirm the quality of the single crystal and showed well-defined spots and tetragonal symmetry.

Single crystals of Hydroxyethylammonium L – tartrate monohydrate [HEALT] have been grown by slow evaporation technique using water as a solvent. The structural and vibrational properties of the crystals were studied. Besides these characterizations ab initio quantum chemical calculations have been performed at HF/6-31G (d) level to derive first order hyperpolarizability. It is shown that the first order hyperpolarizability is found to be 14.2 times more than that of urea. The characteristic vibrational frequencies obtained from polarized Raman spectra in different scattering configurations have been assigned based on the complete factor group analysis. Vibrational analysis of IR and Raman reveals that the charge transfer interaction must be responsible for nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of the present system. The UV absorption measurements have also been carried out to confirm the utility of the material for optical applications.

Single crystal dixanthinium tetrachlorozincate has been grown from dilute chloridric acid. Polarized Raman spectrum of the single crystalline sample, FT-Raman and FT-IR spectra of the polycrystalline samples have been examined and the bands assigned to the appropriate modes predicted by a factor group analysis for the space group Pmn2₁. The crystal structure has been confirmed by powder XRD measurements.