Strong Infrared Nonlinear Optical Efficiency and High Laser Damage Threshold Realized in Quaternary Alkali Metal Sulfides Na2Ga2MS6 (M = Ge, Sn) Containing Mixed Nonlinear Optically Active Motifs.

Two new infrared (IR) nonlinear optical (NLO) sulfides, Na2Ga2GeS6 and Na2Ga2SnS6, were obtained by mixing different typical NLO-active motifs GaS4 and GeS4/SnS4 in the alkali metal-containing system. The IR NLO sulfides present laser-induced damage thresholds that are 18.1 and 17.9 times that of the reference AgGaS2 (AGS) and second-harmonic generation efficiencies that are 0.8 and 1.1 times that of AGS. These properties originate from the GaS4, GeS4, and SnS4 tetrahedral blocks in the structures of the sulfides. Both compounds also exhibit a broad transparency range and type-I phase-matching behavior, which support their high potential in high-power laser applications. This work sheds new light on the development of promising mid-IR NLO materials by combining different NLO-active motifs.