The photodegradation of a variety of donor-acceptor-substituted azobenzene nonlinear optical chromophores has been studied. The variables examined that influence the rate of degradation include chromophore and host polymer structure, irradiation wavelength, temperature, and atmosphere.
The photodegradation of the azobenzene chromophore DR1 {4-[N-ethyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-4(?)-nitroazobenzene]} incorporated as a side chain or as a guest in a poly(methyl) methacrylate host has been evaluated as a function of wavelength, temperature, and the atmospheric environment. The effects of these variables on the lifetime of DR1-based electro-optic devices is quantified.
The wavelength dependence of the one-photon absorption-induced photodegradation rate has been measured from the visible to the near IR for a variety of electro-optic chromophore-doped polymers. Systematic behavior is identified. The lifetime of the electro-optic activity is found to increase exponentially over 4-6 orders of magnitude for wavelengths ranging from peak of absorption, typically in the visible, to ~1000 nm. Many popular chromophores developed for electro-optics over the past 10 years are compared.
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