Outstanding Poling Stability of a New Cross-Linked Nonlinear Optical (NLO) Material from a Low Molecular Weight Chromophore

Abstract

In this paper we report the synthesis and characterization of a trihydroxylated nonlinear optical (NLO) azochromophore and its functionalization with 2,4-tolylendiisocyanate (TDI) to give an amorphous mixture of isomers that was used as a starting compound for the preparation of cross-linked electro-optic (EO) thin films. An unedited type of thermal cross-linking reaction was used, exploiting the reactivity of isocyanate groups themselves in the presence of N,N-dimethylacetamide, without the addition of any hydroxylated comonomer as usual in the preparation of polyurethanes. Thin films were prepared by spin coating and corona poled during thermal cross-linking. A d(33) value of 33 pm/V was obtained by second-harmonic generation (SHG) measurements on poled films, and an excellent stability of SHG signal was shown upon aging at 130 °C and during dynamic thermal stability measurements.

Novel poly(aryl ether ketone) with electro-optic chromophore side chains for light modulators

“…To solve this problem, researchers have focused on either the preparation of novel host polymers containing nonlinear optical chromophores in the main chains with high glass transition temperatures or they have introduced cross linking groups into the electro optic polymer systems [19][20][21][22][23][24]. Else, some advanced material structures (binary system) and poling or devices preparing technologies (slot electrode structure) were added to organic EO materials.…”

Rigid chain ribbon‐like metallopolymers

“…The search for novel organic materials able to replace traditional inorganic ones in different high tech applications is a general trend observed in the last decades. A huge number of studies has been published in this period which permitted the obtainment of materials with excellent performance in different fields of electronics such as photovoltaics, field effect transistors, and photonics, as for instance nonlinear optics (NLO), by giving a better understanding of the physical mechanism underlying the activity of organic based materials. This interest stems first of all from the possibility of processing organic materials through solution techniques (spin‐coating, inkjet printing, or roll‐to‐roll techniques), deeply reducing in this way the cost of the device fabrication.…”

Nonlinear optical materials by electrospinning technique

“…The second is the possibility to achieve robust and low‐cost optoelectronic devices by monolithical integration of EO polymer devices on semiconductor electronics . The electrical and optical properties of organic materials can be tailored by organic synthesis yielding, for instance, large EO coefficients and low drive voltages by the incorporation of molecules (chromophores) with large NLO properties . The price to be paid is the need to undergo a poling process to destroy the centrosymmetric nature which is intrinsic in such amorphous materials.…”