Synthesis and Optical Properties of β‐BaB2O4 Network‐Like Nanostructures

Abstract Network‐like nanostructures made from the nonlinear optical material beta barium metaborate (β‐BaB 2 O 4 , β‐BBO) have been successfully synthesized from a BBO gel precursor by a sol–gel method. The homogeneous BBO gel precursor is prepared by the hydrolysis and condensation of barium acetate, sorbitol, and boric acid in a mixture of polyethylene glycol (PEG200) and water. We have also demonstrated that the morphology of the synthesized β‐BaB 2 O 4 materials exerts a significant influence on the second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency. Importantly, the preparation and second‐order nonlinear optical studies with different shapes will offer great opportunities to explore the dependence of a material's second‐order nonlinear optical properties on its morphology and is essential for the manufacture of potential nanoscale optoelectronic and nonlinear optical devices.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)