High-Temperature Nonlinear Optical Chromophores and Polymers

Abstract

Poled polymers for fully integrated modulator and switching applications will require orientational stability under device operating conditions and thermal stability of the chromophores and polymers during poling and integration. The latter may require heating to 250°C or more for brief periods. We describe here the preparation of a number of NLO polyimide derivatives which meet these thermal requirements. Derivatives containing the NLO chromophore donor substituents embedded in the polymer main chain show exceptional thermal and orientational stability. We also describe preliminary results on the efficient photoassisted electric field poling of high Tg azo-containing polymers at room temperature. This process may alleviate some of the difficulties inherent to poling at very high temperatures.Organic nonlinear optical materials (NLO) have attracted attention recently as potentially fast and efficient components of optical communication and computing systems. Although they have been studied in many forms including crystals, clathrates, organic glasses, sol-gel composites, vapor deposited films, Langmuir-Blodgett structures, etc., poled polymer films provide the best opportunity for near-term applications, particularly in the area of electro-optic modulators and switches (7). In this regard, there are two possible scenarios: (i) external applications separate from the silicon device circuitry and (ii) My integrated electro-optic modulators and switches. Each of these configurations, while sharing certain common characteristics, differ significantly in the thermal stability requirements. For purposes of discussion, we have designated the applications as type I and type II respectively. For each application, long term stability of the polymers (chemical, oxidative and orientational) will be required at operating temperatures which may vary between 80-125°C depending on the configuration and application. Orientational stability in poled 100

Pure and mixed films of a nitrostilbene derivative at the air–water interface, Langmuir–Blodgett multilayer fabrication, and optical characterization

“…In this context, the development of optoelectronic devices, based on nonlinear optical (NLO) processes induced in molecular materials, has attracted the interest of many research groups in the last few decades [1][2][3][4][5][6].…”

Nonlinear optical properties of polymeric materials and polymer films: Recent developments and future trends

“…11. Here a new class of polyimides was introduced in which the electron donor group of the NLO chromophore is incorporated directly into the backbone of the polymer (Fig.…”

Diacetylene-containing polymers XII. Synthesis and characterization of dye-containing poly(hexa-2,4-butadiynylenoxydibenzoates)

“…Many of these materials consist of vinyl polymer main chains, for example, poly(methyl methacrylate), to which dyes (chromophores) such as 4-{4-[(N,Nethyl 2-hydroxyethyl)amino]phenylazo}nitro-benzene (Disperse Red 1) are linked, and their NLO properties and applications have been intensively investigated [4 -6]. In addition to the vinyl polymer systems, other types such as polyamides and imides have also been synthesized and their second-order optical nonlinearity has been investigated [7,8].…”

“…Similarly to the above, the nitro derivative 6 was obtained as a dark red solid melting at 114-115 ± C, with a total yield of 72%. [2-(propargyloxybenzoyloxyethyl)-amino]-4 0 -nitroazobenzene (7). 5 g (0.015 mol) of chromophore 2 was reacted at room temperature with 6.43 g (0.033 mol) of the acid chloride in dry dichloromethane, using dry triethylamine as an acid acceptor.…”