X-ray diffraction, spectroscopic and thermal studies on a potential semiorganic NLO material: lithium bis-L-malato borate.

A semiorganic nonlinear optical material, lithium bis-L-malato borate (LBMB) (molecular formula C8H8BLiO10), has been synthesized, and single crystals grown from an aqueous solution, by the method of slow evaporation at 30 degrees C. Crystals of size up to 7 mm x 3 mm x 2 mm were harvested and characterized by powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared techniques to confirm the identity of the compound formed. The TG-DTA results establish the good thermal stability of the material. The UV-Vis-NIR spectral study reveals that the material has a wide transparency window (230-1500 nm) with a lower cutoff at 230 nm. Kurtz powder test with a Nd:YAG laser indicates the production of SHG output.