posted on 2024-02-08, 11:43authored byWei Zeng, Yao Tian, Xuehua Dong, Ling Huang, Hongmei Zeng, Zhien Lin, Guohong Zou
Birefringent crystals are extensively utilized across
diverse optical
applications due to their unique property of splitting incident light
into dual refracted rays, thereby modulating and controlling light
polarization. The pursuit of promoting the birefringence of such crystals
to facilitate device miniaturization has recently emerged as a prominent
area of focus. In this investigation, we introduce two molybdenyl
iodates, namely, C(NH2)3MoO3(IO3) and Rb2MoO2(I2O6)(IO3)2, conceived through a “cation–anion
synergetic interaction” strategy. Each compound exhibits a
one-dimensional chain structure. Despite processing similar wide band
gaps (3.33 and 3.22 eV), these materials display a variance in their
birefringence (Δn = 0.426 and 0.261 @546 nm).
Notably, C(NH2)3MoO3(IO3) showcases the highest birefringence among all hitherto reported
molybdenyl iodates, signifying its potential as a high-performance
birefringent crystal. Theoretical analyses indicate that the C(NH2)3+ cation, acting as a birefringence-active
unit, significantly bolsters the birefringence of molybdate iodates.
Moreover, the presence of extensive hydrogen-bonding interactions
between C(NH2)3+ cations and iodates
influences the orientation of the highly anisotropic iodates, thereby
further enhancing the birefringence of C(NH2)3MoO3(IO3). This research paves the way for
the future exploration of organic–inorganic hybrid molybdenyl
iodates exhibiting exceptional optical performance.