Growth, Characterization and Morphology Study of Gel-Grown Lead-Cadmium-Mixed Levo-Tartrate Crystals

Abstract

Lead-cadmium mixed levo tartrate crystals for different compositions of lead and cadmium were grown by using single diffusion gel growth method in silica hydro gel medium. Long and dendrite type white crystals as well as star type crystals were obtained. The metallic composition in the crystals was estimated by EDAX. It was found that the metallic composition in the crystals vary as per the composition of supernatant solution, i.e., lead content was found more than cadmium content. The powder XRD suggested the monoclinic as well as orthorhombic nature. The grown crystals were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and thermal studies. The FTIR spectra revealed the presence of water molecules, O-H, C-H, C-O and C=O functional groups. The thermo-grams suggested that the crystals were thermally unstable and decomposed into oxide through oxalate as well as carbonate stages.