Growth and characterization of gel grown pure and mixed iron-manganese levo-tartrate crystals

Several applications of iron tartrate and manganese tartrate compounds are reported in the literature. In the present investigation, we have grown pure and mixed iron (II)-manganese levo-tartrate crystals by single diffusion gel growth technique. Crystals with spherulitic morphology were harvested. The colouration of the crystals changed from black to pinkish brown upon increasing the content of manganese in the crystals. The crystals were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, powder XRD, TGA, VSM and dielectric study. Crystal structures of different mixed crystals were studied. From TGA it was observed that on heating the hydrated crystals became anhydrous and then converted into oxides. Paramagnetic nature of the crystals was revealed from VSM study. The variation of the dielectric constant with frequency was studied. The results are discussed.