Published online: 3 March 2012 Exploration of New Second-Order Nonlinear Optical Compounds Containing Main Group Elements

摘要

This review mainly highlights recent research progress on the exploration syntheses, crystal structures, and nonlinear optical properties of multinary chalcogenides. Some examples show that slight radius change (Ga~(3+) vs. In~(3+)) leads to different packing patterns of the same asymmetric units that eventually result in NLO properties with different origins. Besides, combination of two types of asymmetric units, SbQ_x polyhedron and TrQ_4 tetrahedron, not only gives rise to a rich structural chemistry but also yields many NCS compounds with excellent IR NLO performance. Additionally, the studies of the new mid-IR NLO crystal BaGa_4S_7 developed by a Bridgman-Stockbarger technique and a series new NLO chalcogenides based on TrQ_4 and TtQ_4 tetrahedra are also included.