Ultrasonic and piezoelectric investigations on single crystals of 3-nitroaniline

Abstract

Abstract Ultrasonic, piezoelectric and thermal expansivity measurements have been carried out using single-crystal samples of 3-nitroaniline (meta-nitroaniline mNA). Longitudinal and transverse velocity measurements in six crystal directions were used to determine the nine elastic coefficients. These data are discussed in relation to the intermolecular interactions existing within the crystal structure of mNA. Piezoelectric measurements show that this organic material exhibits coefficients which are of similar magnitude to those observed for inorganic materials such as lithium niobate.