X-ray diffraction, spectroscopic and thermal studies on a potential semiorganic NLO material: lithium bis-l-malato borate

A semiorganic nonlinear optical material, lithium bis-l-malato borate (LBMB) (molecular formula C8H8BLiO10), has been synthesized, and single crystals grown from an aqueous solution, by the method of slow evaporation at 30 °C. Crystals of size up to 7 mm × 3 mm × 2 mm were harvested and characterized by powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared techniques to confirm the identity of the compound formed. The TG-DTA results establish the good thermal stability of the material. The UV-Vis-NIR spectral study reveals that the material has a wide transparency window (230-1500 nm) with a lower cutoff at 230 nm. Kurtz powder test with a Nd:YAG laser indicates the production of SHG output.