Comments on the Paper: “Synthesis, Growth and Optical, Mechanical, Electrical and Surface Properties of an Inorganic New Nonlinear Optical Crystal: Sodium Cadmium Tetra Chloride (SCTC)”

The authors of the title paper (Cryst. Res. Technol. 2018, 53, 1700271) report to have grown a new nonlinear optical sodium cadmium tetra chloride (SCTC) single crystal by slow evaporation from an aqueous solution. A critical analysis of the title paper proves that the so-called SCTC crystal is an improperly characterized material. Taking the title crystal as an example, it is suggested that submission of CIF file to a database be made an essential prerequisite for journal publication of new compounds.