Chiral Hybrid Copper(I) Halides for High Efficiency Second Harmonic Generation with a Broadband Transparency Window

Chiral hybrid organic-inorganic metal halides (HOMHs) with intrinsic noncentrosymmetry have shown great promise for applications in second-order nonlinear optics (NLO). However, established chiral HOMHs often suffer from their relatively small band gaps, which lead to negative impacts on transparent window and laser-induced damage thresholds (LDT). Here, we have synthesized two chiral HOMHs based on Cu-I halides, namely (R-/S-MBA)CuBr2, which feature well-balanced NLO performances with a highly efficient SHG response, outstanding optical transparency, and high LDT. The effective second-order NLO coefficient of (R-MBA)CuBr2 has been determined to be approximate to 24.7 pm V-1, which is two orders of magnitude higher than that of their Cu-II counterparts. This work shows the promising potential of Cu-I-based chiral HOMHs for nonlinear photonic applications in wide wavelength regions.

Automated summary

Chiral hybrid organic-inorganic metal halides (HOMHs) based on Cu-I halides were synthesized, showing well-balanced NLO performances, highly efficient SHG response, outstanding optical transparency, and high LDT. The effective second-order NLO coefficient of (R-MBA)CuBr2 is two orders of magnitude higher than that of their Cu-II counterparts.