Pb2BO3Cl: A Tailor‐Made Polar Lead Borate Chloride with Very Strong Second Harmonic Generation

A meticulously designed, polar, non‐centrosymmetric lead borate chloride, Pb₂BO₃Cl, was synthesized using KBe₂BO₃F₂ (KBBF) as a model. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction revealed that the structure of Pb₂BO₃Cl consists of cationic [Pb₂(BO₃)]⁺ honeycomb layers and Cl^? anions. Powder second harmonic generation (SHG) measurements on graded polycrystalline Pb₂BO₃Cl indicated that the title compound is phase‐matchable (type I) and exhibits a remarkably strong SHG response, which is approximately nine times stronger than that of potassium dihydrogen phosphate, and the largest efficiency observed in materials with structures similar to KBBF. Further characterization suggested that the compound melts congruently at high temperature and has a wide transparency window from the near‐UV to the mid‐IR region.     

NH4Be2BO3F2 and γ‐Be2BO3F: Overcoming the Layering Habit in KBe2BO3F2 for the Next‐Generation Deep‐Ultraviolet Nonlinear Optical Materials

KBe₂BO₃F₂ (KBBF) is still the only practically usable crystal that can generate deep‐ultraviolet (DUV) coherent light by direct second harmonic generation (SHG). However, applications are hindered by layering, leading to difficulty in the growth of thick crystals and compromised mechanical integrity. Despite efforts, it is still a great challenge to discover new nonlinear optical (NLO) materials that overcome the layering while keeping the DUV SHG available. Now, two new DUV NLO beryllium borates have been successfully designed and synthesized, NH₄Be₂BO₃F₂ (ABBF) and γ‐Be₂BO₃F (γ‐BBF), which not only overcome the layering but also can be used as next‐generation DUV NLO materials with the shortest type I phase‐matching second‐harmonic wavelength down to 173.9 nm and 146 nm, respectively. Significantly, γ‐BBF is superior to KBBF in all metrics and would be the most outstanding DUV NLO crystal.     

CsZn2BO3X2 (X2=F2, Cl2, and FCl): A Series of Beryllium-Free Deep-Ultraviolet Nonlinear-Optical Crystals with Excellent Properties

Designing deep-ultraviolet (DUV) nonlinear-optical (NLO) crystals is one of the major current research interests, but it faces a great challenge. In order to overcome the problem of crystal growth and the toxicity of BeO raw materials in KBe₂BO₃F₂ (KBBF), the only applicable DUV NLO crystal so far, we substitute Be²⁺ cations with Zn²⁺ in the KBBF structure and modify the halogen anions, by which three new Zn-containing KBBF-like compounds, CsZn₂BO₃X₂ (X₂=F₂, Cl₂, and FCl), have been successfully synthesized. They all exhibit excellent NLO properties, including improved SHG responses (2.8–3.5×KDP) and short UV cut-off edges (<190 nm). In comparison with KBBF, CsZn₂BO₃X₂ (X₂=F₂, Cl₂, and FCl) are all chemically benign and have better growth habits, so they are all promising as DUV NLO crystals. Further study on structure–property relationships indicates that the mixing of halogen anions is a feasible strategy to enhance the SHG responses of the KBBF family.     

Rational Design of the Metal‐Free KBe2BO3F2⋅(KBBF) Family Member C(NH2)3SO3F with Ultraviolet Optical Nonlinearity

The first fluorosulfonic ultraviolet (UV) nonlinear optical (NLO) material, C(NH₂)₃SO₃F, is rationally designed by taking KBe₂BO₃F₂ (KBBF) as the parent compound. C(NH₂)₃SO₃F features similar topological layers as KBBF by replacing inorganic (BO₃)^3? with organic C(NH₂)₃⁺ trigonal units and BeO₃F with SO₃F^? tetrahedra. Therefore, C(NH₂)₃SO₃F is a metal‐free UV NLO crystal. Benefiting from the coplanar configuration of the C(NH₂)₃⁺ cationic groups, it possesses a large SHG response of 5×KDP and moderate birefringence of 0.133@1064 nm. Besides, it has a short UV cutoff edge of 200 nm. The calculated results reveal the shortest SHG phase‐matching wavelengths can reach 200 nm. These findings highlight the exploration of metal‐free compounds as nontoxic and low‐cost UV NLO materials as a new research area.     

Beryllium‐Free β‐Rb2Al2B2O7 as a Possible Deep‐Ultraviolet Nonlinear Optical Material Replacement for KBe2BO3F2

A new beryllium‐free deep‐ultraviolet (DUV) nonlinear optical (NLO) material, β‐Rb₂Al₂B₂O₇ (β‐RABO), has been synthesized and characterized. The chiral nonpolar acentric material shows second‐harmonic generation (SHG) activity at both 1064 and 532 nm with efficiencies of 2×KH₂PO₄ and 0.4×β‐BaB₂O₄, respectively, and exhibits a short absorption edge below 200 nm. β‐Rb₂Al₂B₂O₇ has a three‐dimensional structure of corner‐shared Al(BO₃)₃O polyhedra. The discovery of β‐RABO shows that through careful synthesis and characterization, replacement of KBe₂BO₃F₂ (KBBF) by a Be‐free DUV NLO material is possible.     

RbLi2Ga2(BO3)3

The structure of rubidium dilithium digallium tris­(borate), RbLi₂Ga₂(BO₃)₃, contains two‐dimensional sheets of open‐branched rings of GaO₄ tetrahedra and planar BO₃ triangles that are joined by LiO₄ tetrahedra to form a three‐dimensional framework. Ten‐coordinate Rb atoms lie on twofold axes and occupy channels within the framework that extend along the b axis.     

Lead zinc borate,PbZn2(BO3)2

PbZn₂(BO₃)₂ crystallizes in the space group Pccn, with the Pb cation at a site with imposed twofold symmetry. The compound represents a new structure type in which ZnBO₃ layers are bridged by Pb²⁺ cations, giving rise to a three‐dimensional framework. Channels parallel to the [010] direction accommodate the stereochemically active lone pairs of the Pb²⁺ cations.     

A Facile Synthetic Route to a New SHG Material with Two Types of Parallel π‐Conjugated Planar Triangular Units

A new SHG material, namely, Pb₂(BO₃)(NO₃), which contains parallel π‐conjugated nitrate and borate anions, was obtained through a facile hydrothermal reaction by using Pb(NO₃)₂ and Mg(BO₂)₂?H₂O as starting materials. Its structure contains honeycomb [Pb₂(BO₃)]_∞ layers with noncoordination [NO₃]^? anions located at the interlayer space. Pb₂(BO₃)(NO₃) shows a remarkable strong SHG response of approximately 9.0 times that of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) and the material is also phase‐matchable. The large SHG coefficient of Pb₂(BO₃)(NO₃) arises from the synergistic effect of the stereoactive lone pairs on Pb²⁺ cations and parallel alignment of π‐conjugated BO₃ and NO₃ units. Based on its unique properties, Pb₂(BO₃)(NO₃) may have great potential as a high performance NLO material in photonic applications.     

Prediction of Fluorooxoborates with Colossal Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) Coefficients and Extremely Wide Band Gaps: Towards Modulating Properties by Tuning the BO3/BO3F Ratio in Layers

Fluorooxoborates have inspired investigations of deep‐ultraviolet (DUV) nonlinear optical (NLO) materials that can meet the multiple criteria. Herein, five stable structures with the composition of BaB₂O₃F₂ (I–V) are discovered using the ab initio evolutionary algorithm. Among them, BaB₂O₃F₂‐I has been synthesized experimentally and confirms the reliability of the method. All of the predicted structures possess extremely wide band gaps (8.1–9.0 eV). Moreover, four new structures exhibit giant second harmonic generation (SHG) coefficients (>3×KDP, d₃₆=0.39 pm V^?1). A novel type of the [BOF] layer with BO₃:BO₃F ratio of [1:1] is found in BaB₂O₃F₂‐II and BaB₂O₃F₂‐III. While BaB₂O₃F₂‐IV and BaB₂O₃F₂‐V are solely composed of the BO₃F group and have colossal SHG coefficients (ca. 4×KDP). It gives the direct evidence that the BO₃F group could generate strong SHG effect. Most importantly, the influences of BO₃:BO₃F ratio and their number density on band gap, birefringence and SHG effects are investigated.     

Pr(BO2)3 und PrCl(BO2)2: Zwei meta‐Borate des Praseodyms im Vergleich

Pr(BO₂)₃ and PrCl(BO₂)₂: Two Praseodymium meta‐Borates in Comparison Single‐crystalline PrCl(BO₂)₂ can be obtained by the reaction of praseodymium, Pr₆O₁₁ and PrCl₃ with a small excess of B₂O₃ in evacuated silica tubes after seven days at 850 °C. If NaCl is additionally used as flux, single crystals of Pr(BO₂)₃ dominate the main product. Both praseodymium(III) meta‐borates are air and water stable. The crystals of PrCl(BO₂)₂ emerge as long, thin, pale green needles which tend to severe twinning due to their fibrous habit. The crystal structure (triclinic, P1¯; a = 420.56(4), b = 655.42(7), c = 808.34(8) pm, α = 82.361(8), β = 89.173(9), γ = 71.980(7)°, Z = 2) exhibits zigzag chains {[(B1)o^t_1/1O^e_2/2(B2)O^t_1/1O^e_2/2]²⁻} (≡ {[BO₂]⁻}) of corner‐linked [BO₃]³⁻ triangles with syndiotactic orientation of the terminal oxygen atoms which are running parallel to the [100] direction. The Pr³⁺ cations are surrounded by three Cl⁻ and seven O²⁻ anions with the shape of a tetracapped trigonal prism. The green, transparent crystals of Pr(BO₂)₃ (monoclinic, C2/c; a= 984.98(9), b = 809.57(8), c = 641.02(6) pm, β = 126.783(9)°, Z = 4) appear either lath‐shaped or rather spherical. In the crystal structure the B³⁺ cations reside both in trigonal planar as well as in tetrahedral coordination of oxygen atoms. Both types of borate polyhedra ([BO₃]³⁻ and [BO₄]⁵⁻) are linked via corners to form chains of the composition {[(B2)‐O^t_1/1O^e_2/2(B1)O^e_4/2(B2)O^t_1/1O^e_2/2]³⁻} (≡ {[BO₂]⁻}) which run parallel [101]. The coordination sphere of the Pr³⁺ cations consists of ten oxide anions which build up a bicapped square antiprism.     

Zwei Fluoridborate des Gadoliniums: Gd2F3[BO3] und Gd3F3[BO3]2

Two Fluoride Borates of Gadolinium: Gd₂F₃[BO₃] and Gd₃F₃[BO₃]₂ By flux‐supported solid‐state reaction of Gd₂O₃ and GdF₃ with B₂O₃ (flux: CsCl, molar ratio: 1 : 1 : 1 : 6, sealed tantalum capsule, 700 °C, 7 d) the new gadolinium fluoride borate Gd₂F₃[BO₃] (monoclinic, P2₁/c; a = 1637.2(1), b = 624.78(4), c = 838.04(6) pm, β = 93.341(8)°; V_m = 64.418(6) cm³/mol, Z = 8) was obtained as colourless, prismatic, face‐rich single crystals. The four crystallographically different Gd³⁺ cations (CN = 9) are all capped square‐antiprismatically surrounded by fluoride and oxide anions, in which the latter represent always components of isolated trigonal planar [BO₃]^3— anions. The six crystallographically independent F^— anions all reside in more or less planar coordination of three Gd³⁺ cations. Thus the constitution of Gd₂F₃[BO₃] can be described as a sequence of alternating layers each of the composition Gd[BO₃] and GdF₃ parallel (100), respectively. The crystal structures of Gd₂F₃[BO₃] and the shortly published Gd₃F₃[BO₃]₂ (monoclinic, C2/c; a = 1253.4(1), b = 623.7(1), c = 836.0(1) pm, β = 97.404(6)°; V_m = 97.571(9) cm³/mol, Z = 4) are compared with each other. Due to the structural analogies between these two gadolinium fluoride borates, a disorder model of the boron atoms frequently found for Gd₂F₃[BO₃] is able to be transferred to Gd₃F₃[BO₃]₂ as well.     

A new rubidium beryllium borate,RbBe4(BO3)3

Single crystals of a new rubdidium beryllium borate, RbBe₄(BO₃)₃, have been obtained by spontaneous nucleation from a high‐temperature melt. This new ortho­rhom­bic (Pnma) structure type contains [Be₂BO₄]⁻ rings, made of two BeO₄ tetra­hedra and one BO₃ triangle, which constitute the basic structural units. The m plane runs through the B and one of the O atoms and intersects the ring. These rings form chains in the a direction, which are connected in the b and c directions to form zeolite‐type cages in which the Rb⁺ cations are located, at sites of m symmetry.     

Ba3(BO3)(CO3)F: The First Borate Carbonate Fluoride Synthesized by the High-Temperature Solution Method

In contrast to the well-investigated halogen-containing borates and carbonates, very few halogen-containing borate carbonate compounds have been reported. Specifically, no example of borate carbonate fluoride has been synthesized successfully until now. Herein, the planar π-conjugated units [BO₃]³⁻ and [CO₃]²⁻ and the F⁻ ions are introduced simultaneously into one crystal structure resulting in the first borate carbonate fluoride, Ba₃(BO₃)(CO₃)F, by the high-temperature solution method in the atmosphere. Its structure features a hexagonal channel formed by the [BO₃]³⁻ and [CO₃]²⁻ units with the [F₃Ba₈]¹³⁺ trimers filled in the channel. Various characterizations including single crystal- and powder-XRD, EDX, IR, UV-vis-NIR, and TG-DSC, together with the first principles calculation have been carried out to verify the structure and fully understand the structure–property relationships.     

A non‐linear optical crystal,Cd3Zn3(BO3)4

The title compound, tricadmium trizinc tetraborate, Cd₃Zn₃(BO₃)₄, is a new non‐linear optical (NLO) crystal and its structure has been determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. This compound is composed of planar [BO₃]³⁻ groups sharing O atoms with CdO₄ or ZnO₄ tetrahedra. The BO₃ triangles are located on threefold axes and are arranged with nearly the same orientation. The Cd and Zn atoms are disordered on the same site in the proportion 1:1. A strong second harmonic generation of Nd:YAG laser radiation (λ = 1064 nm) has been observed for a crystal of the title compound.     

[O2Pb3]2(BO3)Br: An Oxidoborate Oxide Bromide with the ∞1[O2Pb3] Double Chains Based on Edge‐sharing OPb4 Tetrahedra

Through extensive research on the PbO / PbBr₂ / B₂O₃ system, a new single crystal of yellow lead‐containing oxyborate bromine, [O₂Pb₃]₂(BO₃)Br, was grown from the melt. It crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group Cmcm (no. 63) of the orthorhombic system with the following unit cell dimensions: a = 9.5748(8) Å, b = 20.841(2) Å, c = 5.7696(5) Å, and Z = 4. The whole structure is characterized by an infinite one‐dimensional (1D) _∞¹[O₂Pb₃] double chain, which is based on the OPb₄ oxocentered tetrahedra and considered as the derivative of the continuous sheet of OPb₄ tetrahedra from the tetragonal modification of α‐PbO. The 1D _∞¹[O₂Pb₃] double chains are further bridged by the BO₃ units through common oxygen atoms to form two‐dimensional (2D) _∞¹[[(O₂Pb₃)(BO₃)] layers, with Br atoms situated between the layers. IR spectroscopy, UV/Vis/NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and thermal analysis were also performed on the reported material.     

CsB4O6F: A Congruent‐Melting Deep‐Ultraviolet Nonlinear Optical Material by Combining Superior Functional Units

The discovery of new nonlinear optical (NLO) materials for coherent light generation in the deep‐ultraviolet (DUV, wavelength below 200 nm) region is essential for the development of laser technologies. Herein, we report a new material CsB₄O₆F (CBF), which combines the superior structural properties of two well‐known NLO materials, β‐BaB₂O₄ (BBO) and KBe₂BO₃F₂ (KBBF). CBF exhibits excellent DUV optical properties including a short cutoff edge (155 nm), a large SHG response (≈1.9×KDP), and a suitable birefringence that enables frequency doubling down to 171.6 nm. Remarkably, CBF melts congruently and shows an improved growth habit. In addition, our rational design strategy will contribute to the discovery of DUV NLO materials.     

Rb3Y2(BO3)3 with a noncentrosymmetric structure

Trirubidium diyttrium triborate contains zigzag chains of corner‐sharing [Y₂O₁₀] dimers. The chains are reinforced by one independent BO₃ group and crosslinked by the other two types of BO₃ groups to form a three‐dimensional framework. Channels along the [100] direction accommodate the Rb⁺ cations.     

An alkoxide cluster with 18 Li+ ions encapsulating two borate anions, [(tBuO)12Li18(BO3)2]

The title compound, bis­(borato)­dodeca(tert‐butoxo)­octa­deca­lithium, [Li₁₈(BO₃)₂(C₄H₉O)₁₂], is formulated conveniently as [{(^tBuOLi)₃(Li₃BO₃)}₂(^tBuOLi)₆]. A central 12‐membered ring and two outer six‐membered rings are formed by alternating Li⁺ cations and alkoxide O atoms. Sandwiched between the central ring and each of the outer rings is a planar array of three further Li⁺ cations surrounding a [BO₃]³⁻ anion. Thus, the mol­ecule consists of a cationic [Li₁₈(O^tBu)₁₂]⁶⁺ cage encapsulating two borate anions. This compound is the first example of a structurally characterized polynuclear lithium borate, and a rare case of a lithium alkoxide cage with nuclearity greater than eight. All the alkoxide ligands are triply bridging, and the lithium ions have trigonal‐planar, trigonal‐pyramidal and fourfold coordination, all with major distortions from regular coordination geometry.     

Photoluminescent properties of white-light-emitting Li6Y(BO3)3:Dy3+ phosphor

In this study, lithium yttrium borate (LYBO) phosphor was doped with various concentrations of trivalent dysprosium ions. To produce these phosphors, the raw materials were sintered. The phase conformation, crystallinity, grain size, and overall morphology of the synthesized phosphors were studied with X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The optimized LYBO phosphor, i.e., the LYBO phosphor that exhibited the highest X-ray- and ultraviolet (UV)-induced photoluminescent intensities, had a Dy³⁺ concentration of 4 mol%. Photoluminescence analysis showed that this phosphor could be easily excited with near-UV light (300–400 nm). The dominant photoluminescence bands were found in the blue (480 nm) and yellow (577 nm) regions of the visible spectrum. The light yield of the X-ray-induced luminescence of the optimized Li₆Y(BO₃)₃:Dy³⁺ was found to be 66% of that of the commercially available X-ray imaging material, Gd₂O₂S:Tb³⁺ (GOS). The chromaticity coordinates of the Li₆Y(BO₃)₃:Dy³⁺ phosphor were x = 0.34 and y = 0.32, which agree well with achromatic white (x = 0.33, y = 0.33). The results of this study show that the synthesized Li₆Y(BO₃)₃:Dy³⁺ phosphor could be used as X-ray imaging material.     

Crystal structure of the new borate Li3Gd(BO3)2. Comparison with the homologous Na3Ln(BO3)2 (Ln: La,Nd) compounds

The structure of Li₃Gd(BO₃)₂ has been solved by X-ray diffraction study on single crystal. This novel borate crystallizes in the monoclinic system with the P2₁/c space group (Z=4). The cell parameters are respectively equal to a=8.724(2), b=6.425(2), c=10.095(2) Å and β=116.85(2)°. Refinements of 110 parameters using 2924 independent reflections having I>2σ(I) converged to R₁=0.028 (wR₂=0.058). The structure of Li₃Gd(BO₃)₂ is made up of double layers of eightfold coordinated Gd atoms parallel to the (bc) plane. They are linked by respectively three- and four-coordinated boron and lithium atoms. The structure is compared to that of the homologous sodium compounds, Na₃Ln(BO₃)₂ (Ln: La, Nd), in which LnO₈ polyhedra also form a bi-dimensional array.