Toward Large Second-Harmonic Generation and Deep-UV Transparency in Strongly Electropositive Transition Metal Sulfates

Chao Wu, Chunbo Jiang, Guangfeng Wei, Xingxing Jiang, Zujian Wang, Zheshuai Lin, Zhipeng Huang, Mark G. Humphrey, Chi Zhang*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    68 Citations (SciVal)

    Abstract

    The development of deep-ultraviolet (DUV)/solar-blind UV nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals simultaneously possessing wide UV transparency, strong second-harmonic generation (SHG) response, and suitable birefringence is a major challenge in advanced laser technology. We herein propose a “cation compensation” strategy for strong optical nonlinearity in inorganic solids that is exemplified by the introduction of strongly electropositive transition metals (TMs). Following this strategy, the first d0 TM UV-transparent NLO sulfates, MF2(SO4) (M = Zr (ZFSO), Hf (HFSO)), have been synthesized. Short UV cutoff edges of 206 nm and below 190 nm are observed for bulk ZFSO and HFSO crystals, respectively, together with the strongest powder SHG responses (3.2 × (ZFSO) and 2.5 × KDP (HFSO)) for solar-blind UV/DUV NLO sulfates, as well as suitable birefringence. This work provides a new and efficient approach to the development of urgently needed high-performance NLO materials for applications in the short-wavelength UV region.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)3040-3046
    Number of pages7
    JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
    Volume145
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2023

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