Organometallic self-organized nanomaterials for nonlinear optics

Abstract

Novel nonlinear optical polymeric film-producing nanocomposites based on bis(arene)chromium complexes incorporated into a CN-containing matrix have been developed. Polymer-precursors were prepared by the reaction of Cr(Et n C 6 H 6-n ) 2 mixtures (n = 1,2,3) with CN-containing vinyl monomers (acrylonitrile, crotononitrile and ethylcyanoacrylate). The nonlinear-optical measurements in the absence of external electrical fields showed a "natural"anisotropy resulting from self-organization taking place during the film formation process. Measurements by the spectrally-resolved two-beam coupling method confirmed that the test composites exhibited a significant cubic nonlinear optical susceptibility of the ultra-fast electronic type.