Barium oxalate was grown in agar gel at ambient temperature. The effect of various parameters like gel concentration, gel setting time and concentration of the reactants on the growth of these crystals was studied. Prismatic platy shaped spherulites and dendrites were obtained. The grown crystals were characterized by X-ray powder diffractometry, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis. An attempt is made to explain the spherulitic growth mechanism.

Single crystals of barium oxalate have been grown by gel method using agar-agar gel as media of growth at ambient temperature. The optimum conditions were established by varying various parameters such as concentration of gel, concentration of reactant, gel setting time etc. Prismatic platy shaped transparent crystals were obtained. The grown crystals were characterized through powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) studies, Thermogravimetric (TGA) and Differential thermal analysis (DTA). The compound crystallizes under monoclinic structure with lattice parameters a = 6.6562 Å, b = 8.0464 Å, c = 2.8090 Å, β= 96.832°, and V = 149.38 Å 3. The FT-IR spectrum indicates OH and carbonyl group along with the presence of metal-oxygen bond. The TGA indicates 17.75% weight loss at 550°C from which the decomposition pattern is formulated.

The single crystals of Lead Iodide have been grown by gel method. X‐ray diffraction studies on these crystals shows that the lattice parameters of grown crystals are almost matching with reported values. The results of detailed studies made on the microstructures of Lead Iodide crystals, have been described. The observations of the faces of these crystals revealed that they have grown by layer as well as spiral mechanisms. The probable role of these parameters is explained along with the surface microstructures on these various shaped crystals.

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Single crystals of calcium iodate and barium iodate were grown by simple gel technique by single diffusion method. The optimum conditions were established by varying various parameters such as pH of gel solution, gel concentration, gel setting time, concentration of the reactants etc. Crystals having different morphologies and habits were obtained. Prismatic, dendritic crystals of barium iodate and prismatic, needle shaped, hopper crystals of calcium iodate were obtained. Some of them were transparent, some transluscent, and few others were opaque. Both the crystals were studied using XRD, FT-IR, and thermal analysis. The crystals were doped by iron impurity. The effect of doping was studied using IR spectroscopy and thermal analysis.