Several new push−pull azobenzene dyes with different
electron-withdrawing groups, steric
hindrance, and hydrogen-bonding capabilities were dispersed in
poly(N-methacryloyl-N‘-phenylpiperazine),
a glassy polymer matrix. After orientation by corona poling, the
second harmonic generation (SHG) signals
of the guest−host systems were measured as a function of time and
temperature and fitted with
Kohlrausch−Williams−Watts (KWW) stretched exponentials. The
variations of their nonlinear susceptibilities at time zero and in their relaxation behavior were correlated
with the changes of the chromophore
chemical structure. Rigid rod structures always presented the best
orientability and stability of the
nonlinear optical properties.