A new lanthanum calcium borate with the composition La
2CaB
10O
19 has been synthesized.Single crystals have been grown from a melt close to the stoichiometric composition. Thecompound crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group
C2, with
a = 11.043(3) Å,
b =6.563(2) Å,
c = 9.129(2) Å,
![](/images/gifchars/alpha.gif)
=
![](/images/gifchars/gamma.gif)
= 90
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
,
![](/images/gifchars/beta2.gif)
= 91.47
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
, and two formula units per cell. Thecrystal structure contains B
5O
12 double-ring pentaborate groups, which are linked togetherto form an infinite two-dimensional double layer. The layer runs almost perpendicular tothe
c axis of the crystal. The La atoms are located in layers, while the Ca atoms are locatedbetween two layers. La
2CaB
10O
19 exhibits an optical second-harmonic generation effect abouttwice as large as that of KDP (KH
2PO
4).