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

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目将开发一种使用水热技术的KBe 2BO 3F 2（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。亚200 nm区域目前对于固态激光器是不可接近的，并且在这些波长下工作的光学部件是有限的。 KBBF具有优异的深紫外特性，在倍频和波长混合等激光应用中显示出巨大的前景。以前的晶体通量生长方法在深紫外激光方面表现出优异的性能，但该材料很难以所需的单晶形式生长。 此外，中国已经禁止通过这种方法生长的晶体，因此KBBF晶体目前在中国以外地区无法获得。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材料对于开发用于光刻、微加工和光谱学的波长低于200 nm的固态激光器至关重要。 KBBF晶体的可用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产业的重生。晶体生长行业几乎完全转移到了海外，使美国在先进应用方面变得脆弱，新战略材料的管道不断缩小，特别是在光学领域。这一领域特别依赖于新材料，美国正面临失去曾经巨大的竞争优势的严重危险。 此外，一名博士后学生将通过克莱姆森大学的子奖项获得支持，并将成为该国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.