Growth, Structure, and Optical Properties of a Congruent Melting Oxyborate, Bi₂ZnOB₂O₆

Abstract

A single crystal of Bi2ZnOB2O6 has been grown with sizes up to 18 × 13 × 6 mm3 by the top-seeded growth method for the first time with high quality. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group Pba2 with unit-cell parameters a = 10.8200(7) Å, b = 11.0014(7) Å, c = 4.8896(3) Å, Z = 4, V = 582.03(6) Å3. Bi2ZnOB2O6 has a three-dimensional network consisting of ZnB2O76- layers alternating with six-coordinated Bi3+ cations along the c axis. Transmission spectrum of Bi2ZnOB2O6 crystal was reported. The refractive indices of the crystal were measured by the minimum deviation technique and fitted to the Sellmeier equations. The powder second-harmonic generation (SHG) properties measured by the Kurtz−Perry method indicate that Bi2ZnOB2O6 is phase-matchable.