CsB4 O6 F: A Congruent-Melting Deep-Ultraviolet Nonlinear Optical Material by Combining Superior Functional Units.

The discovery of new nonlinear optical (NLO) materials for coherent light generation in the deep-ultraviolet (DUV, wavelength below 200 nm) region is essential for the development of laser technologies. Herein, we report a new material CsB4 O6 F (CBF), which combines the superior structural properties of two well-known NLO materials, β-BaB2 O4 (BBO) and KBe2 BO3 F2 (KBBF). CBF exhibits excellent DUV optical properties including a short cutoff edge (155 nm), a large SHG response (≈1.9×KDP), and a suitable birefringence that enables frequency doubling down to 171.6 nm. Remarkably, CBF melts congruently and shows an improved growth habit. In addition, our rational design strategy will contribute to the discovery of DUV NLO materials.