New Y type chromophores were synthesized and the hyperpolarizability can be effectively translated into large electro-optic coefficients in poled polymers.

In this brief review, nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores widely used in electro-optic (EO) devices are summarized according to their EO coefficients. The advances of EO modulators based on organic materials in high bandwidth and low half wave voltages (V p ) are discussed. The review is mainly devoted to the following aspects: (1) verification of high frequency operation and reduction of V p for all polymer waveguide EO modulators; (2) structures and advantages of sol-gel waveguide EO modulators; (3) principles and developments of silicon-organic hybrid (SOH) EO modulators. All the considerations are illustrated by the architecture of the devices and the used physical and chemical principles are explained in detail. Further means of improvement of their parameters are indicated.

A new diene-conjugated chromophore WJ1 was synthesized with high yield of 36% through an H-bonding induced Vilsmeier reaction. By simple guest-host doping, a large electro-optic efficiency of 337 pm V(-1) at 1310 nm and excellent temporal stability at 75 °C have been achieved in poled films of WJ1/APC with a high loading density of 40 wt%.