Cation‐Tuned Synthesis of Fluorooxoborates: Towards Optimal Deep‐Ultraviolet Nonlinear Optical Materials

The development of new nonlinear optical (NLO) materials for deep‐ultraviolet (DUV) applications is in great demand. However, the synthesis of an ideal DUV NLO crystal is a serious challenge. Herein, three new alkali‐metal fluorooxoborates, AB₄O₆F (A=K, Rb, and Cs, and a mixed cation between two of them), were successfully synthesized by cation regulation. It is found that all reported compounds exhibit short UV absorption edges (<190 nm), and show second harmonic generation (SHG) responses ranging from 0.8 to 1.9 KH₂PO₄ (KDP). Interestingly, by judicious selection of the A‐site alkali‐metal cations, the arrangement of NLO‐active structural units is fine‐tuned to an optimal configuration, which contributes to large SHG responses.     

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.     

Deep‐Ultraviolet Nonlinear Optics in a Borate Framework with 21‐Ring Channels

A new borate LiBa₃(OH)[B₉O₁₆][B(OH)₄], which combines the uniform porosity of open‐frameworks with the extraordinary NLO properties of borates, has been obtained under hydrothermal conditions by using mixed lithium and barium ions as templates. The framework displays an acs‐type net with large 21‐ring channels. The second harmonic generation (SHG) measurement shows that it is a type I phase‐matchable material with a strong SHG signal intensity about 3.1 times that of KDP (KH₂PO₄). UV/Vis–NIR diffuse reflectance analysis indicates that the compound has a wide transparency range with the short‐wavelength absorption edge below 200 nm. These characteristics reveal that the compound is a promising deep‐UV nonlinear optical material.     

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.     

Pb2BO3I: A Borate Iodide with the Largest Second‐Harmonic Generation (SHG) Response in the KBe2BO3F2 (KBBF) Family of Nonlinear Optical (NLO) Materials

Borate halides are an ideal materials class from which to design high‐performance nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. Currently, borate fluorides, chlorides, and bromides are extensively investigated while borate iodide materials discovery remains rare because of the perceived synthetic challenges. We report a new borate iodide, Pb₂BO₃I, synthesized by a straightforward hydrothermal method. The Pb₂BO₃I chemical formula conceals that the compound exhibits a structure similar to the well‐established KBe₂BO₃F₂ (KBBF), which we show supports the highest second‐harmonic generation (SHG) at 1064 nm in the KBBF family, 10 × KH₂PO₄ (KDP), arising from the inclusion of Pb²⁺ and I^? and the crystal chemistry. Our work shows that KBBF‐related compounds can be synthesized incorporating iodide and exhibit superior NLO responses.     

Preparation,Structure, and Second‐order Nonlinear Optical Properties of a Borate‐Carboxylic Acid Compound: NH4B[d‐(+)‐C4H4O5]2·H2O

The organic‐inorganic hybrid nonlinear optical (NLO) material NH₄B(d‐ (+)‐C₄H₄O₅)₂ · H₂O (NBC) was synthesized in a borate‐carboxylic acid system. Its structure was determined by single crystal X‐ray diffraction. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group Pna2₁ (No. 33), with cell parameters a = 11.484(6) Å, b = 5.354(3) Å, c = 21.079(12) Å, V = 1296.0(12), Z = 4. It exhibits a three‐dimensional pseudo tunnel structure consisting of fundamental building block [B(d‐ (+)‐C₄H₄O₅)₂]^– anions. The small cavities are occupied by the H₂O molecules and NH₄⁺ cations, which stabilize the whole structure by O–H ··· O and N–H ··· O hydrogen bonds. The powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) of the crystal was also recorded. Elemental analyses, FT‐IR and FT‐Raman spectra analyses, thermal analysis, and diffuse‐reflectance spectra for the compound are also presented, as are band structures and density of states calculation. Nonlinear optical measurements indicate that the material has second harmonic generation (SHG) properties and is phase‐matchable.     

The Hexacyanodiborane(6) Dianion [B2(CN)6]2−

Diborane(6) dianions with substituents that are bonded to boron via carbon are very reactive and therefore only a few examples are known. Diborane(6) derivatives are the simplest catenated boron compounds with an electron‐precise B–B σ‐bond that are of fundamental interest and of relevance for material applications. The homoleptic hexacyanodiborane(6) dianion [B₂(CN)₆]²⁻ that is chemically very robust is reported. The dianion is air‐stable and resistant against boiling water and anhydrous hydrogen fluoride. Its salts are thermally highly stable, for example, decomposition of (H₃O)₂[B₂(CN)₆] starts at 200 °C. The [B₂(CN)₆]²⁻ dianion is readily accessible starting from 1) B(CN)₃²⁻ and an oxidant, 2) [BF(CN)₃]⁻ and a reductant, or 3) by the reaction of B(CN)₃²⁻ with [BHal(CN)₃]⁻ (Hal=F, Br). The latter reaction was found to proceed via a triply negatively charged transition state according to an S_N2 mechanism.     

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.     

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.     

Darstellung und spektroskopische Charakterisierung der Monofluorohydro-closo-Borate [B6H5F]2− und [B12H11F]2−

Preparation and Spectroscopic Characterization of the Monofluorohydro-closo-borates [B₆H₅F]^2? and [B₁₂H₁₁F]^2? By treatment of [B₆H₆]^2? with 1-(chloromethyl)-4-fluoro-1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane-bis(tetrafluoroborate)in acetonitrile monofluorohydro-closo-hexaborate [B₆H₅F]^2? ( 1 ) is formed in good yields. [B₁₂H₁₂]^2? reacts with unhydrous HF yielding the monofluorododecaborate [B₁₂H₁₁F]^2? ( 2 ). These compounds are separated by ion exchange chromatography on diethylaminoethyl(DEAE) cellulose from by-products. The ¹¹B nmr spectra exhibit the characteristic patterns (1 : 4 : 1) of a monosubstituted B₆ octahedron and (1 : 5 : 5 : 1) of a monosubstituted B₁₂ icosahedron with strong downfield shifts of the ipso-B nuclei at +9.3 ppm ( 1 ) and at +9.0 ppm ( 2 ). The ¹⁹F nmr spectra reveal quartets at ?212 ppm ( 1 ) and ?209 ppm ( 2 ) proving a B? F bonding. In the i.r. spectra, for ( 1 ) in the Raman spectrum too, cage vibrations depending on the F substituent at 1195 ( 1 ) and at 1182/1154 cm^?1 ( 2 ) are observed. The Raman spectra show the B₆F stretching mode at 535 cm^?1 and the B₁₂F stretching vibration at 445 cm^?1.     

Cs[Cl3F10]: A Propeller‐Shaped [Cl3F10]− Anion in a Peculiar A[5]B[5] Structure Type

Reaction of CsF with ClF₃ leads to Cs[Cl₃F₁₀]. It contains a molecular, propeller‐shaped [Cl₃F₁₀]^? anion with a central μ₃‐F atom and three T‐shaped ClF₃ molecules coordinated to it. This anion represents the first example of a heteropolyhalide anion of higher ClF₃ content than [ClF₄]^? and is the first Cl‐containing interhalogen species with a μ‐bridging F atom. The chemical bonds to the central μ₃‐F atom are highly ionic and quite weak as the bond lengths within the coordinating XF₃ units (X = Cl, and also calculated for Br, I) are almost unchanged in comparison to free XF₃ molecules. Cs[Cl₃F₁₀] crystallizes in a very rarely observed A^[5]B^[5] structure type, where cations and anions are each pseudohexagonally close packed, and reside, each with coordination number five, in the trigonal bipyramidal voids of the other.     

SnI4⋅(S8)2: A Novel Adduct‐Type Infrared Second‐Order Nonlinear Optical Crystal

A simple adduct from tin tetraiodide SnI₄ and octasulfur S₈, SnI₄?(S₈)₂ ( 1 ), is obtained employing a facile reaction. The combination of Sn⁴⁺ ions with d¹⁰ electron configuration, acentric SnI₄ tetrahedra, and lone‐pair effects of S₈, makes 1 a phase‐matchable infrared NLO crystal with a moderate second‐harmonic generation (SHG) response and a very high laser‐induced damage threshold (LIDT), which is well confirmed by the DFT calculations.