SrZnSnSe4: Synthesis, crystal structure and nonlinear optical properties

Abstract Infrared (IR) laser is very important in many fields including military, scientific research and so on, but traditional oxide nonlinear optical (NLO) materials usually perform well only in ultraviolet (UV) and visible ranges. Searching for excellent IR NLO materials with high laser damage threshold (LDT) and strong second harmonic generation (SHG) response is challenging and urgent. Herein, a new compound SrZnSnSe4 was predicted and synthesized via solid state reaction. It crystallizes in the non-centrosymmetric group Fdd2. This compound possesses high LDT 5.0 times that of AgGaS2 (AGS), with a SHG coefficient 0.33 times that of AGS. Moreover, this compound was synthesized at relatively lower temperature which benefits the crystal growth. These findings indicate that SrZnSnSe4 is a potential commercial NLO material.