Citation: Ning Yang, Huijian Zhao, Wenli Zhao, Yuheng She, Ning Ye, Zhanggui Hu, Conggang Li. Assembly of π-conjugated [B₃O₇] groups by unprecedented antiparallel triangles [ZnO₃] to tailor a deep-UV zinc borate birefringent crystal[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(4): 110825. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.110825 shu

Assembly of π-conjugated [B₃O₇] groups by unprecedented antiparallel triangles [ZnO₃] to tailor a deep-UV zinc borate birefringent crystal

Ning Yang ^a ,
Huijian Zhao ^a ,
Wenli Zhao ^a ,
Yuheng She ^a ,
Ning Ye ^a ,
Zhanggui Hu ^a ,
Conggang Li ^{a, b, *,}

a.
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Crystal Materials, Institute of Functional Crystals, Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China
b.
State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Ji’nan 250100, China

cgli@email.tjut.edu.cn

Received Date: 27 November 2024
Revised Date: 24 December 2024
Accepted Date: 6 January 2025
Available Online: 7 January 2025

Figures(5)

Birefringent crystals have gained increasing attention for versatile optical devices due to their inherent ability to modulate light polarization. However, the rational design of structures that exhibit high birefringence and deep-ultraviolet (DUV) transparency remains a formidable challenge. Here, a novel zinc borate birefringent crystal, Na₂ZnB₆O₁₁ (NZBO), was identified by strategically assembling the π-conjugated [B₃O₇] functional units using the unprecedented antiparallel triangles formed by [ZnO₃] motifs. Remarkably, through a tailored motif approach and optimized arrangement, NZBO achieves the largest birefringence (0.094) in the visible wavelength range among the borate-based crystals containing [B₃O₇] units, exceeding that of commercially available birefringent crystal MgF₂ by approximately 8 times (0.012@532 nm). Furthermore, NZBO exhibits a notably short DUV absorption cutoff edge below 190 nm along with a wide band gap of 6.04 eV attributed to the elimination of dangling bonds. The origin of the optical anisotropy attributes of NZBO was elucidated through a combination of theoretical calculations and structural analyses. These findings highlight the good potential of NZBO in the manipulation of polarized light and offer valuable insights for tailoring new birefringent materials in the short-wave UV transparency region.
- Zinc borate,
- Deep ultraviolet,
- Birefringence,
- Functional motifs,
- Light modulation
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Assembly of π-conjugated [B3O7] groups by unprecedented antiparallel triangles [ZnO3] to tailor a deep-UV zinc borate birefringent crystal

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通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

Assembly of π-conjugated [B₃O₇] groups by unprecedented antiparallel triangles [ZnO₃] to tailor a deep-UV zinc borate birefringent crystal