To improve the orientational stability of the chromophore induced
by an electric field in
a second-order nonlinear optical polymer, we have synthesized a
thermally stable and cross-linkable azo dye,
4-[(4‘‘-aminophenyl)sulfonyl]-4‘-[N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]azobenzene.
The transparent films with silica as matrix and organic
chromophore as cross-linking agent
were then prepared by using a sol−gel process. The resulting
films heated at 200 °C under
a high-corona field exhibited the nonlinear optical coefficient
d
33 = 32 pm/V in Maker-fringe
measurement. Long-term stability of second-harmonic coefficients
in these films was
observed even at 160 °C.