Hg-based chalcogenides possess diverse structures, large nonlinear-optical (NLO) responses, and suitable birefringences, making them potentially suitable for numerous crucial criteria of practical application as infrared (IR) NLO crystals. Here, a new pentanary Hg-based sulfide K2Ba7HgIn4S16 has been discovered by a high-temperature solid-state method. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic P21212 space group, and its one-dimensional structure is constructed by {[In2S7]8–}∞ chains and isolated [HgS4]6– planar quadrilateral units located bewteeen the chains, representing a novel type of chalcogenide. K2Ba7HgIn4S16 exhibits a moderate NLO effect of 0.5 × AGS at 2.1 μm and a high laser-induced damage threshold of ∼5.8 × AGS, as well as a band gap of 2.98 eV, demonstrating that K2Ba7HgIn4S16 is a potential IR NLO material. This work enriches the structural chemistry of chalcogenides and the family of Hg-based IR NLO chalcogenides.

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