From Centrosymmetry to Noncentrosymmetry: Tailoring the Structural Arrangements of Carbonates with Strong Nonlinear Optical Response through Partial Anion Substitution

Second-harmonic nonlinear-optical (NLO) crystals with intrinsically noncentrosymmetric (NCS) structures are the core crystalline materials in the modern optics and laser technology. Here, taking as-grown centrosymmetric NaY(CO3)(2) and NCS YOHCO3 crystals as an example, a partial anion substitution strategy in the carbonate system is provided to develop NLO materials with remarkable NLO property for the first time, while the outstanding linear optical properties such as wide bandgap and large birefringence are maintained. Notably, benefiting from the planar pi-conjugated (CO3)(2-) anions and closed shell electronic structure of Y3+ cations, the YOHCO3 crystal simultaneously manifests a deep UV cutoff (<200 nm), sturdy second-harmonic-generation signal (2 x KH2PO4), and gigantic birefringence (0.07 at 1064 nm), enabling phase-matching in short-wavelength UV region. In addition, first-principles calculations are conducted for the in-depth analysis on the structure-optical property connection.

Automated summary

In this study, a partial anion substitution strategy was used to develop NLO materials with remarkable properties while maintaining outstanding linear optical properties, using NaY(CO3)(2) and YOHCO3 crystals as examples.