A Study of Potassium Dihydrogen Phosphate (KDP) Crystal Surfaces by XPS Available to Purchase

Potassium dihydrogen phosphate KH₂PO₄ (KDP) is a transparent dielectric material best known for its nonlinear optical and electro-optical properties (Refs. 1 and 2). Because of its nonlinear optical properties, it has been incorporated into various laser systems for harmonic generation and optoelectrical switching. In addition, KDP is particularly suitable for use in large-aperture laser systems such as that located at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) because it can be grown as a single crystal to large size (Refs. 3 and 4). Despite the importance of this material, surface composition and surface electronic structure data were found to be nonexistent. X-ray photoemission spectroscopy was thus used to characterize the composition and surface structure of (100) and (101) native crystals.