SBIR Phase II: Hydrothermal Growth of Potassium Beryllium Fluoroborate (KBBF) for Deep UV Nonlinear Optical Applications.

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目将利用水热技术开发一种KBe2BO3F2(KBBF)单晶的商业生长工艺。该化合物是10年前开发的，作为深紫外非线性光学(NLO)材料显示出非凡的前景。目前，固体激光器无法进入200 nm以下的区域，在这些波长下工作的光学元件也是有限的。KBBF具有优异的深紫外光特性，在倍频、波长混频等激光应用领域具有广阔的应用前景。以前的助熔剂生长方法在深紫外光激光下表现出了良好的性能，但这种材料很难生长出所需的单晶形式。此外，中国已经禁止了用这种方法和工艺生长的晶体，因此目前在中国以外的地方无法获得KBBF晶体。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是继续开发用于光学应用的单晶生长的水热方法。NLO材料对于波长低于200 nm的固体激光器的发展至关重要，这些固体激光器用于光刻、微加工和光谱分析。KBBF晶体的可获得性还将使新技术成为可能，例如远距离爆炸物探测。这项技术将有助于美国先进材料行业的重生。晶体生长行业几乎完全转移到了海外，这让美国在先进应用方面变得脆弱，新战略材料的供应渠道不断缩小，特别是在光学领域。这一领域对新材料的依赖尤为严重，美国正处于严重危险之中，可能会失去我们曾经相当大的竞争优势。此外，一名博士后将通过克莱姆森大学的分奖获得支持，并将成为这个国家下一代材料科学家和工程师的一部分。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop a commercial growth process for single crystals of KBe2BO3F2 (KBBF) using hydrothermal techniques. The compound was developed 10 years ago and shows exceptional promise as a deep UV non-linear optical (NLO) material. The sub-200 nm region is presently inaccessible for solid-state lasers, and optical components functioning at these wavelengths are limited. KBBF has excellent deep UV properties and shows great promise for laser applications like frequency doubling and wavelength mixing. A previous flux growth method for the crystals demonstrated excellent performance in deep UV lasing, but the material is very difficult to grow in the required single crystal form. Additionally, China has embargoed crystals grown by this method, as well as the process, so KBBF crystals are currently unavailable outside of China. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be to continue to develop the hydrothermal method for growth of single crystals for optical applications. NLO materials are vital for the development of solid-state lasers with wavelengths below 200 nm for use in photolithography, micromachining and spectroscopy. The availability of KBBF crystals will also enable new technologies, such as standoff explosive detection. This technology will help the rebirth of the advanced materials industry in the United States. The crystal growth industry has moved nearly completely offshore, leaving the United States vulnerable in terms of advanced applications, with a shrinking pipeline of new strategic materials, especially in the field of optics. This field is particularly dependent on new materials and the US is in serious danger of losing our once-substantial competitive edge. Additionally, a postdoctoral student will be supported through a subaward to Clemson University, and will become part of the next generation of materials scientists and engineers in this country.