4.8 Article

Organic Kainate Single Crystals for Second-Harmonic and Broadband THz Generation

Journal

ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
Volume 15, Issue 6, Pages 8590-8600

Publisher

AMER CHEMICAL SOC
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c18454

Keywords

zwitterionic crystal; hyperpolarizability; second-harmonic generation; THz; nonlinear organic crystal

Ask authors/readers for more resources

Large-scale kainic acid single crystals were synthesized and studied for their linear and nonlinear optical properties. The non-centrosymmetric zwitterionic crystallization, molecular structure, and inter-molecular arrangement enhance the second-order optical nonlinearity of the crystal. The crystals exhibit good transparency in a broad spectral range and show enhanced second-harmonic generation and broadband THz generation.
Organic crystals with unique nonlinear optical properties have been attracting attention owing to their capability to outperform their conventional nonorganic counterparts. Since nonlinear material responses are linked to a crystal's internal microscopic structure, molecular engineering of maximally unharmonic quantum potentials can boost macromolecular susceptibilities. Here, large-scale kainic acid (kainate) single crystals were synthesized, and their linear and nonlinear optical properties were studied in a broad spectral range, spanning the visible to THz spectral regions. The non-centrosymmetric zwitterionic crystallization, molecular structure, and inter-molecular arrangement were found to act as additive donor-acceptor domains, enhancing the efficiency of the intrinsic second-order optical nonlinearity of this pure enantiomeric crystal. Molecular simulations and experimental analysis were performed to retrieve the crystals' properties. The crystals were predicted and found to have good transparency in a broad spectral range from the UV to the infrared (0.2-20 mu m). Second-harmonic generation was measured for ultrashort pumping wavelengths between 800 and 2400 nm, showing an enhanced response around 600 nm. Broadband THz generation was demonstrated with a detection limited bandwidth of >8 THz along with emission efficiencies comparable to and prevailing those of commercial ZnTe crystals. The broadband nonlinear response and high transparency make kainate crystals extremely attractive for realizing a range of nonlinear optical devices.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.8
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available