Optical data storage is poised to benefit from a new class of advanced polymeric materials engineered I~o exhibit photorefraetivity. Likewise, the transmission and processing of data will also benefit from a related class of materials with electro-optic activity. Organic chromophores are critical constituents of these materials which function due to a change of index of refraction in response to an electric field. However, a number of materials and processing problems remain to be solved before devices incorporating these optically nonlinear ehromophores are practical. For example, for eleetrooptieal applications the NLO waveguide should be able to withstand short duration processing temperatures in excess of 300~ and long duration use temperatures of at least 80~ The requirement for thermoehemical stability follows from the need to implement high T~ matrices to provide stability of the orientational or polar order required for long-term device performance and reliability. As a result, the thermal stability of ehromophores is now more closely evaluated in addition to their transparency and optical nonlinearity properties. Some ehromophore classes, such as the azo dyes studied here, have attractive properties for these applications but further enhancements in overall properties are needed. Identification of the fundamental chemical processes in thermal decomposition of these dyes should lead to introduction of structural changes which provide better stability. Here thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) coupled with mass spectrometry (TGA/MS) is used to provide an assay of thermoehemieal stability with an added benefit that insight into the mechanisms of thermal decomposition may by identified. In this initial study diaryl substitution of the amine in derivatives of 4-amino-4'-nitroazobenzene was observed to greatly enhance thermal stability relative to dialkyl substitution. Substitution of phenyl for alkyl eliminates structural features involved in the most facile degradation mechanism available to the alkyl derivative.
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