Experimental investigation on anisotropic characteristic of YBa3B9O18

•Electron energy loss spectroscopy of B-K and O-K edges in YBa3B9O18 were examined.•The experimental results are analyzed based on density functional theory calculations.•The orientation-dependent spectra for both B-K and O-K edges are observed.•The unoccupied pz features dominate when the energy transfer q along c orientations.•The unoccupied pxy states were probed when q is perpendicular to c axis.

The energy loss near edge fine structures of the B-K edge and O-K edge have been examined in the optical material YBa3B9O18. The orientation-dependent electron energy-loss spectra (EELS) for both B-K edge and O-K edge were observed. The experimental results were analyzed based on density functional theory calculations. The unoccupied pz features dominated the EELS when it was collected under the energy transfer q along c orientations and pxy states were probed when q was perpendicular to the crystallographic c axis. The results provide direct experimental evidence on the anisotropic characteristic of YBa3B9O18.