Phase matchable semiorganic NLO material for frequency doubling: l-Arginine tetrafluoroborate

l-Arginine tetrafluoroborate (C6H15N4+O2BF4−) is a semiorganic crystalline material exhibiting second harmonic generation (SHG) down to the UV region. The material was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-NMR and FT-IR spectra. The lower cutoff wavelength was found to be 270 nm, with a good optical transmittance window covering UV-vis-NIR region. The thermal stability of the compound was determined by TG-DTA curves. The powder SHG efficiency was measured using a Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser assembly by a modified Kurtz and Perry powder technique and its phase matching property was established.