Growth and optical properties of single AgGaGe5Se12 (AGGSe) crystal

• 200 g AGGSe polycrystalline could be synthesized in one run.
• Bridgman Stockbarger method was used for the growth of large size AGGSe crystal.
• The low mean absorption 0.04–0.08 cm−1 in the range 0.95–15 μm.
• The AGGSe surface laser induced damage threshold (LIDT) was measured to be 220 MW/cm2.

High quality crystal AgGaGe5S12 (AGGSe), a promising infrared (IR) nonlinear optical (NLO) material, was grown using seed aided Bridgman Stockbarger technique with dimension size 30 mm in diameter and 60 mm in length. The crystal was characterized with X-ray diffraction, rocking curve, transmission spectrum and laser induced damage threshold (LIDT). The FWHM of the (2 1 0) peak is about 0.06° and the IR transmission is about 61% in an 2 mm thick sample, mean absorption 0.04–0.08 cm−1 in the range 0.95–15 μm. The surface LIDT was measured to be 220 MW/cm2, about triple the value of high quality AgGaS2 crystal with other experimental variable invariant. It may be good candidates for high-power NLO application.