Nd_xLa_2-xCaB₁₀O₁₉: Synthesis and characterization

Solid solutions of Nd_xLa_2-xCaB₁₀O₁₉ with different Nd³⁺ concentration have been synthesized by substituting Na³⁺ for La³⁺ in La₂CaB₁₀O₁₉. Powder X-ray diffraction analysis shows that Nd³⁺ is easy to incorporate into the crystal. Single crystal Nd_xLa_2-xCaB₁₀O₁₉ (NLCB) in centimeter size has been grown by Kyropoulos method. The crystal has strong absorption around 580 nm and 805 nm. The fluorescence spectra indicate that there is an energy transition at 1.063 μm. And the SHG of NLCB is about the twice as that of KDP. These favorable features make NLCB a candidate for laser NLO multifunctional materials.