Lithium triborate

Lithium triborate (LiB3O5) or LBO is a non-linear optics crystal. It has a wide transparency range, moderately high nonlinear coupling, high damage threshold and desirable chemical and mechanical properties. This crystal is often used for second harmonic generation (SHG, also known as frequency doubling), for example of Nd:YAG lasers (1064 nm → 532 nm). LBO can be both critically and non-critically phase-matched. In the latter case the crystal has to be heated or cooled depending on the wavelength.

Lithium triborate

__Li+     __ B3+     __ O2−
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
Properties
LiB3O5
Molar mass 119.37 g·mol−1
Appearance Colorless crystalline solid
Density 2.747 g/cm3
Melting point 834 °C (1,533 °F; 1,107 K)
1.5656
Structure
Orthorhombic
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Lithium triborate was discovered and developed by Chen Chuangtian and others of the Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences. It has been patented.[1]

Chemical properties
  • Point group: mm2
  • Lattice parameters: a=8.4473 Å, b=7.3788 Å, c=5.1395 Å
  • Mohs hardness: 6
  • Transmission range: 0.16 – 2.6 μm
  • Damage threshold: 25 J/cm2 (1064 nm, 10 ns pulses)
  • Thermal expansion coefficients: x: 10.8×10−5/K, y: −8.8×10−5/K, z: 3.4×10−5/K
  • Specific heat: 1060 J/kg·K
  • Melting point: 834 °C

Applications of lithium triborate (LBO) crystal

Lithium triborate (LBO) crystals are applicable in various nonlinear optical applications:[2]

References
  1. U.S. Patent 4,826,283 (issued in 1989), 2023845 in Japan and CN88102084.2 in China.
  2. LBO crystal applications at www.eksmaoptics.com
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