A method 100 suitable for manufacturing Q-switches includes coating 120 a first Z-surface and second Z-surface of an oriented slab of a chemically reducible electro-optic lithium compound crystal (LC slab) with a condensed material including an active chemical operable once activated to chemically reduce the LC; the LC slab with condensed material thereon is heated 130 in a non-oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature above an activating temperature of the condensed material; the LC slab is cooled 140 to a temperature below a quenching temperature below which re-oxidization of the LC slab is inhibited; a finishing process is performed 150 including cutting the LC slab into a plurality of Q-switch devices each having a chemically reduced LC substrate, and forming metal electrodes on opposing sides of the LC substrates that are orthogonal to the Z-surfaces, and coating the Z-surfaces with an antireflective (AR) coating material. The reduction process increases the electrical conductivity of the LC slab thus preventing large charge build ups.
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