Large non-resonant infrared optical second harmonic generation in bulk crystals of van der Waals Semiconductor, SnP₂Se₆

Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) materials have emerged as a highly promising platform for nonlinear optical (NLO) applications. This study presents the synthesis, comprehensive linear, and optical second harmonic generation (SHG) characterization of a novel 2D vdW semiconductor SnP₂Se₆ in its bulk single crystal form. It exhibits an indirect bandgap of ∼ 1.47 eV and an exceptional non-resonant SHG coefficient of d₃₃ ∼ 222 ± 30 pm/V at a fundamental wavelength of 2 μm, which is ∼ 7 times larger than that of the commercial AgGaSe₂ with a comparable bandgap. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the linear and nonlinear optical properties exhibit reasonable agreement with the experimental measurements, revealing the chemical origin of the enhanced properties. Moreover, SnP₂Se₆ can exhibit both type-I and type-II phase matching over a wide spectral range, fulfilling one of the key criteria for an ideal NLO crystal. The exceptional properties position SnP₂Se₆ as a highly promising candidate for integrated nonlinear optical applications.