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.     

Fluorooxoborates: Beryllium‐Free Deep‐Ultraviolet Nonlinear Optical Materials without Layered Growth

Deep‐ultraviolet nonlinear optical (DUV NLO) crystals are the key materials to extend the output range of solid‐state lasers to below 200 nm. The only practical material KBe₂BO₃F₂ suffers high toxicity through beryllium and strong layered growth. Herein, we propose a beryllium‐free material design and synthesis strategy for DUV NLO materials. Introducing the (BO₃F)⁴⁻, (BO₂F₂)³⁻, and (BOF₃)²⁻ groups in borates could break through the fixed 3D B–O network that would produce a larger birefringence without layering and simultaneously keep a short cutoff edge down to DUV. The theoretical and experimental studies on a series of fluorooxoborates confirm this strategy. Li₂B₆O₉F₂ is identified as a DUV NLO material with a large second harmonic generation efficiency (0.9×KDP) and a large predicted birefringence (0.07) without layering. This study provides a feasible way to break down the DUV wall for NLO materials.     

Two Covalent Ultraviolet Nonlinear Optical Crystals

Nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals are the vital components of laser science and technology, as they can convert lasers in common wavelengths into new wavelength bands for ultraviolet (UV), IR, and even terahertz laser output. Known UV NLO crystals mainly focus on crystals containing cations, but covalent crystals have rarely been reported. Here we report two covalent NLO crystals, B₂O₃ I and B₂O₃ II. According to the first‐principles calculations, B₂O₃ I and II have extremely short absorption edges of about 134 nm and 141 nm, large NLO coefficients of d₂₂=1.38 pm/V and d₂₄=0.702 pm/V, as well as sufficient birefringences of 0.037 and 0.031, respectively. Notably, the absorption edges are almost the shortest among NLO crystals. Meanwhile, the NLO coefficients are evidently larger than that of another well‐known covalent NLO crystal α‐SiO₂ and are comparable to those of the commercial UV NLO crystal LiBO₃ with Li⁺ cation. Furthermore, the birefringences are significantly larger than that of α‐SiO₂, which are favorable to the phase matching for both crystals. These results reveal that B₂O₃ I and B₂O₃ II are excellent candidates for UV NLO applications. In‐depth calculations are carried out to reveal the origin of excellent NLO properties. These covalent crystals provide a new direction for the research of UV NLO crystals.     

SrB5O7F3 Functionalized with [B5O9F3]6− Chromophores: Accelerating the Rational Design of Deep‐Ultraviolet Nonlinear Optical Materials

Fluorooxoborates, benefiting from the large optical band gap, high anisotropy, and ever‐greater possibility to form non‐centrosymmetric structures activated by the large polarization of [BO_xF_4?x]^(x+1)? building blocks, have been considered as the new fertile fields for searching the ultraviolet (UV) and deep‐UV nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. Herein, we report the first asymmetric alkaline‐earth metal fluorooxoborate SrB₅O₇F₃, which is rationally designed by taking the classic Sr₂Be₂B₂O₇ (SBBO) as a maternal structure. Its [B₅O₉F₃]^6? fundamental building block with near‐planar configuration composed by two edge‐sharing [B₃O₆F₂]^5? rings in SrB₅O₇F₃ has not been reported in any other borates. Solid state ¹⁹F and ¹¹B magic‐angle spinning NMR spectroscopy verifies the presence of covalent B?F bonds in SrB₅O₇F₃. Property characterizations reveal that SrB₅O₇F₃ possesses the optical properties required for deep‐UV NLO applications, which make SrB₅O₇F₃ a promising crystal that could produce deep‐UV coherent light by the direct SHG process.     

Non‐centrosymmetric Selenides AZn4In5Se12 (A=Rb,Cs): Synthesis,Characterization and Nonlinear Optical Properties

Two new non‐centrosymmetric polar quaternary selenides, namely, RbZn₄In₅Se₁₂ and CsZn₄In₅Se₁₂, have been synthesized and structurally characterized. They exhibit a 3D diamond‐like framework (DLF) consisting of corner‐shared MSe₄ (M=Zn/In) tetrahedra, in which the A⁺ ions are located. Both compounds are thermally stable up to 1300 K and exhibit large transmittance in the infrared region (0.65–25 μm) with measured optical band gaps of 2.06 eV for RbZn₄In₅Se₁₂ and 2.11 eV for CsZn₄In₅Se₁₂. Inspiringly, they exhibit a good balance between strong second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency (3.9 and 3.5×AgGaS₂) and high laser‐induced damage thresholds (13.0×AgGaS₂). Theoretical calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) methods confirm that such strong SHG responses originate from the 3D DLF structure.     

The Large Second‐Harmonic Generation of LiCs2PO4 is caused by the Metal‐Cation‐Centered Groups

We evaluated the individual atom contributions to the second harmonic generation (SHG) coefficients of LiCs₂PO₄ (LCPO) by introducing the partial response functionals on the basis of first principles calculations. The SHG response of LCPO is dominated by the metal‐cation‐centered groups CsO₆ and LiO₄, not by the nonmetal‐cation‐centered groups PO₄ expected from the existing models and theories. The SHG coefficients of LCPO are determined mainly by the occupied orbitals O 2p and Cs 5p as well as by the unoccupied orbitals Cs 5d and Li 2p. For the SHG response of a material, the polarizable atomic orbitals of the occupied and the unoccupied states are both important.     

DNA‐Based Polymers as Chiral Templates for Second‐Order Nonlinear Optical Materials

The unique symmetry properties of chiral systems allow the emergence of coherent second harmonic generation in polymeric materials lacking polar order. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) treated with the surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium (CTMA) was drop‐cast to spontaneously form films that are active for coherent second harmonic generation (SHG). SHG images acquired as a function of incident and exigent polarization are in good agreement with theoretical predictions assuming nonpolar D_∞ symmetry for the double‐stranded DNA chains. Doping the DNA films with crystal violet substantially increases the efficiency of SHG, but does not significantly alter the polarization‐dependence, suggesting that the SHG generated upon doping arises from the same chiral‐specific origin, presumably templated by the DNA. These results raise the possibility of new design strategies for organic nonlinear optical materials based on soft chiral polymers that do not require polar order.     

含呋喃共轭桥有机非线性光学生色团的合成及性能研究

通过两次羟醛缩合反应合成了一种含呋喃共轭桥的有机非线性光学生色团分子2-二氰亚甲基-3-氰基-4-[2-(4-二乙氨基-苯乙烯基-呋喃基-5)-乙烯基]-5,5-二甲基-2,5-二氢呋喃(EFFC), 用IR谱、¹H NMR谱以及元素分析表征确认了其结构. 热失重分析表明, 材料的热分解温度T_d为250℃. 用密度泛函理论的B3LYP方法在6-31G基组下对这种生色团分子进行了结构优化, 并在相同基组下对分子的静态二阶极化率进行了计算, 分子的b₀=6.5×10^-28 esu. 将分子以18%的质量比与聚砜进行主-客体掺杂, 用溶胶凝胶法制备成膜后进行极化, 用二次谐波法对掺杂极化聚合物薄膜的电光系数进行测量, 其r₃₃值最高达到80 pm/V.     

Novel van der Waals Deep-UV Nonlinear Optical Materials

Van der Waals (vdW) deep-UV (DUV) nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal is an important material system recently developed. Herein, we review its concept and original intention, and then summarized the discovery process of related materials, including the role of A-site cations and the resulting two-/one-dimensional vdW DUV NLO systems. Finally, we evaluate the practical DUV NLO performance and prospected the opportunities and challenges.     

Transparent Nonlinear Optical Polymers for All‐Optical Wavelength Converters in Optical Fiber Communications

After synthesizing two chromophores with imine, we prepared acrylic nonlinear optical (NLO) polymers that contained the chromophores for all‐optical wavelength converters in optical fiber communication. The polymers show high d₃₃, 35 pm · V⁻¹, at 1.55 μm (pumping beam), considering their low losses, −3.0 dB · cm⁻¹, at a wavelength of 0.785 μm (near second harmonic signal beam of the pumping beam). This result means that the polymers are good candidates for wavelength converters of an approximately 1.55 μm signal beam.

UV‐vis spectra of NLO chromophores and polymers.     

Designing Silicates as Deep‐UV Nonlinear Optical (NLO) Materials using Edge‐Sharing Tetrahedra

Discovering new deep‐ultraviolet (DUV) nonlinear optical (NLO) materials is currently a great challenge. The reported DUV NLO materials are almost exclusively borates or phosphates. Silicates—the largest constituent of the earth's crust—are excluded owing to their weak second harmonic generation (SHG) response. We report a silicate, Li₂BaSiO₄, with edge‐sharing LiO₄–SiO₄ tetrahedra that achieves the balance between a short UV absorption edge, below 190 nm, and a large SHG response, 2.8×KDP. The SHG intensity is the largest for silicates without second‐order Jahn–Teller cations, and exceeds that of non‐isomorphic Li₂SrSiO₄ by more than an order of magnitude. As such Li₂BaSiO₄ may be seen as a promising DUV‐UV NLO material. This research indicates that edge‐sharing tetrahedra is a new design parameter for discovering new DUV NLO materials.     

Rb3VO(O2)2CO3: A Four‐in‐One Carbonatoperoxovanadate Exhibiting an Extremely Strong Second‐Harmonic Generation Response

A nonlinear optical (NLO) carbonatoperoxovanadate, Rb₃VO(O₂)₂CO₃, was synthesized through a simple solution‐evaporation method in phase‐pure form. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction revealed that the structure of Rb₃VO(O₂)₂CO₃ consists of important noncentrosymmetric (NCS) chromophores, that is, π‐delocalized (CO₃)^2? groups, a second‐order Jahn–Teller (SOJT) distortive V⁵⁺ cation, and π‐localized distorted O₂^2? groups, as well as charge‐balancing polarizable Rb⁺ ions. The powder second‐harmonic generation (SHG) measurements indicated that Rb₃VO(O₂)₂CO₃ is phase‐matchable (Type I) and exhibits a remarkably strong SHG response circa 21.0 times that of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP), which is the largest efficiency observed among carbonate NLO materials. First‐principles calculation analysis suggests that the extremely large SHG response of Rb₃VO(O₂)₂CO₃ is attributed to the synergistic effect of the cooperation of all the constituting NCS chromophores.     

有机共晶非线性光学材料及应用研究进展

随着二次谐波(SHG)和双光子吸收(TPA)的产生,有机非线性光学(NLO)材料近十年来在激光频率转换、生物成像、微纳加工、光限幅以及太赫兹波(THz)等领域发挥越来越重要的应用,引起了广泛兴趣.迄今为止,报道的绝大多数有机非线性光学活性材料为单一组分,它们化学合成繁琐、实验条件苛刻且难以打破单一组分固有属性的限制.而复合材料可通过共混、掺杂、共结晶等简易形式迅速地拓宽新材料种类,通过一种分子以上基于分子间非共价相互作用的有机共晶已在很大程度上朝着调节和修改分子固体的物理化学性质的方向发展.然而,目前国内外并没有关于有机共晶在非线性光学领域中的系统性总结与介绍.本综述首先介绍二阶、三阶非线性光学性能参数及其测试方法;接着,介绍共晶材料在该领域的最新研究进展,包括材料的种类、制备方法、产生光学非线性效应的机理等;其次,讨论共晶非线性光学材料潜在的应用;最后,对该领域的发展提供了一些展望,希望能为有机共晶与非线性光学领域的同行研究者们提供一定的借鉴参考.     

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.     

Influence of the Position of the Connecting Spacer of the Chromophore on the Nonlinear Optical Response

A new chromophore, C1 , based on a similar DπA‐structure as in the FTC ‐chromophore but with a hydroxyalkyl spacer perpendicular to the direction of the dipole moment was synthesized. Both chromophores and the CLD ‐chromophore were used to prepare high T_g nonlinear optical vinyl polymers. The influence of the position of the spacer on the DπA‐system on the NLO response of the resulting polymers was investigated.

     

Li[LiCs2Cl][Ga3S6]: A Nanoporous Framework of GaS4 Tetrahedra with Excellent Nonlinear Optical Performance

A large nonlinear optical (NLO) coefficient and a wide band gap are two crucial but contradictory parameters that are difficult to achieve simultaneously in a single infrared (IR) NLO compound. A salt‐inclusion chalcogenide (SIC), Li[LiCs₂Cl][Ga₃S₆] ( 1 ), was prepared that presents a nanosized tunnel framework constructed from monotype chalcogenide tetrahedra. Highly oriented covalent GaS₄ tetrahedra in the host lead to a moderate second harmonic generation response (0.7 AgGaS₂), and ionic guests effectively broaden the band gap to the widest value (4.18 eV) among all IR NLO chalcogenides, thereby achieving a remarkable balance between NLO efficiency and band gap.