Mixed Alkali Metal and Alkaline Earth Metal Scandium Borate Birefringence Material with Layered Structure and Short Ultraviolet Cutoff Edge.

Birefringent crystals are essential in the domains of linear and nonlinear optics that need light wave polarization control. Rare earth borate has become a popular study material for ultraviolet (UV) birefringence crystals due to its short cutoff edge in the UV area. RbBaScBO, a two-dimensional layered structure compound with the BO group, was effectively synthesized through spontaneous crystallization. The UV cutoff edge of RbBaScBO is shorter than 200 nm, and the experimental birefringence is 0.139 @ 550 nm. Theoretical research indicates that the large birefringence originates from the synergistic impact of the BO group and the ScO octahedron. RbBaScBO is an outstanding candidate material for birefringence crystals in the UV and even deep UV regions due to its short UV cutoff edge and significant birefringence.