DOE OSTI2022
Non-linear optical (NLO) materials require a balance of high second-harmonic generation (SHG) signal and laser damage threshold (LDT), as well as phase matchable behavior. Herein, we report a new member of the (RE) 6 (TM) x (Tt) 2 Q 14 family of compounds, La 6 PdSi 2 S 14 , which, unlike all other reported TM analogues crystallizing in hexagonal P6 3 space group, crystallizes in the non-centrosymmetric monoclinic P2 1 space group. The crystal structure contains chains of edge-sharing distorted square planar [PdS 4 ] units. The square-planar coordination of Pd in La 6 PdSi 2 S 14 exhibits remarkable NLO properties with high SHG (3.7 × AgGaS 2 ) and LDT (3 × AgGaS 2 ) values as well as phase matchability. This shows the promise of novel materials with distorted structural motifs for enhanced NLO properties. Further, upon formation of bimetallic chiral sulfides containing both Cu and Pd, Cu occupies the opposite faces of the octahedra forming [CuS 3 ] units while Pd can be stabilized in the center of PdS 6 octahedra in the hexagonal P6 3 crystal structure of La 6 Pd 0.5 CuSi 2 S 14 . This suggests that it is possible to form mixed metal systems which could further enhance NLO properties by incorporation of additional structural distortions.