LiIO3: growth and properties for optical and photoluminescent applications

Abstract Lithium iodate crystals (α-LiIO3) exhibit large piezoelectric, elasto-optic and non-linear optical effects. Indeed, the high non-linear coefficients of this material make it very useful for second harmonic generation and frequency mixing (d31 and d33 lying between −6 and −7×10 −12 V −1 m for wavelength between 1.06 and 2.12 μm ) [1] , [2] . Moreover, its very large transparency range [3] from 300 nm to 5 μm is very interesting for applications in the IR range. Our present studies concern physical characterizations of this material: • the phase transitions versus temperature have been studied by differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetry and X-ray measurements [4] ; • dielectric measurements versus temperature, by using the impedance spectroscopy technique, have led to a better understanding of the ionic conduction process occurring in α-LiIO3 [5] and optical applications: • waveguides have been realized in this material by ionic (H+) implantation [6] ; • photoluminescence studies have been performed in Cr3+ doped crystals. After a short description of the growth technique, results concerning photoluminescence are developed.