Electron-transfer in molecular functional materials

We discuss electron-transfer processes that govern the physics of several materials or systems of interest for advanced applications. The discussion touches upon several topics, ranging from solvatochromism to solvent-induced symmetry breaking, from excitonic to cooperative effects in molecular crystals, from phase transitions to vibrational contributions to the dielectric constant in organic materials, from spectroscopy to molecular transport. In all these diverse systems electron transfer (ET) plays a major role and is discussed with reference to simple models for delocalized charges.     

Progress on phthalocyanine-conjugated Ag and Au nanoparticles: Synthesis,characterization, and photo-physicochemical properties

Phthalocyanine (Pc) complexes are an important class of dyes with numerous (e.g., biological, photophysical, and analytical) applications. Among the methods used to improve the properties of these complexes, one should mention the introduction of different substituents, variation of the central metal ion, ligand exchange, and conjugation to nanomaterials (e.g., carbon-based nanomaterials and metal nanoparticles (NPs)). This work briefly reviews Pc complex conjugation to Ag and Au NPs, highlights the different NP shapes, and discusses the diversity of conjugation approaches. Moreover, the use of UV–Vis spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to characterize Pc-NP hybrids is summarized. The effect of conjugation on Pc photo-physicochemical properties (fluorescence, singlet oxygen generation, triplet state formation, and optical limiting behavior) is discussed, and future perspectives for the synthesis and applications of new hybrids are provided.     

Organophosphorus π-conjugated materials: the rise of a new field

The synthesis and electronic properties of new linear organic π-conjugated systems incorporating phosphole rings are described. Well defined α,α′-(phosphole-thiophene) oligomers possess low HOMO-LUMO gaps and their optical and electrochemical properties can be tuned via chemical modifications of the P-atoms. The physical properties of these compounds make them valuable materials for OLED’s. The coordination ability of phosphole-based dipoles has been exploited for the synthesis of efficient multipolar NLO-phores. Lastly, phospholes have been used for the synthesis of assemblies exhibiting through-bond interaction between two π-systems via P-P σ-skeletons.     

Second-order nonlinear optical properties of side-chain liquid crystalline polymers studied by second harmonic generation from thin films

The two independent elements of the second-order nonlinear optical susceptibility tensor of a range of contact poled, donor–acceptor substitued side-chain polymers are reported. The susceptibilities were measured by second harmonic generation from thin films, typically less than 0.5 μm thick, at a fundamental wavelength of 1064 nm. The largest value was χ = 2.64 pm/V which is three times greater than the χ value of KDP and was measured in a nitrobenzylidene side chain, polyhydroxystyrene polymer with an eleven unit alkyl chain spacer attaching the side group to the backbone. Typical susceptibility values obtained were χ～0.3 pm/V and X⁽²⁾₃₃～1 pm/V. The coherence lengths of the materials, which lay in the range 4–12 μm, were measured at 1064 nm by the maker fringe technique using thick, wedge-shaped samples.     

Doped Sol-Gel Films for Silica-on-Silicon Photonic Components

Further expansion of optical communication systems depends strongly on the development of cheap component technologies for functions such as switching, demultiplexing and amplification. Silica-on-silicon is increasingly recognised as the best approach to low cost integrated optics for such applications, but so far the functionality is limited. The purpose of NODES, a basic research collaboration sponsored by the European Union under the programme ESPRIT, has been to examine the application of sol-gel to a highly functional silica-on-silicon technology. In particular, the project has investigated film processing and characterisation, rare-earth doping for amplification, and semiconductor nanocrystallite doping for nonlinear functions. This paper presents the background and context to this work, summarises the technical results obtained, and discusses requirements and challenges for successful application of sol-gel in photonics.     

苯并[b]萘并[2'''',3'''':5,6][1,4]二噻英并[2,3-i]噻蒽-5,7,9,14,16,18-六酮的合成及其三阶非线性光学性能

以1,4-萘醌为原料,合成了含硫的醌构稠杂环化合物苯并[b]萘并[2',3':5,6][1,4]二噻英并[2,3-i]噻蒽-5,7,9,14,16,18-六酮(4),其结构经1H NMR和IR确证.采用波长为800 nm,脉宽为80 fs的Ti:Sapphire飞秒激光,运用双光束简并四波混频法测定了4的三阶非线性光学性能,结果表明,4的三阶非线性光学极化率χ(3),非线性折射率n2,分子二阶超极化率γ和响应时间分别为2.89×10-13 esu, 5.31×10-12 esu, 3.14×10-31 esu和101 fs.并分析了4的分子结构对其三阶非线性光学性能的影响.     

The pockels coefficient of new polymers for nonlinear optics and its time dependence after poling,compared with dielectric measurements

Epoxy polymers with donor–acceptor type side groups were synthesized for application in nonlinear optics. The stability of the Pockels coefficient was measured in thin films after poling. The relaxation times and their temperature dependence seem to be correlated with dielectric measurements. Guest–host systems (polystyrene and polymethylmethacrylate with dimethylaminonitrostilbene) were investigated for comparison.     

Synthesis of Calix[4]arene Derivatives with NLO Properties

The new chromophore compounds with NLO properties were prepared by Knoevenagel condensation from forrnyl or diformyl calix[4/arene and isophorone derivatives in the presence of piperidine and acetic acid, respectively. In these chromophore calix[4]arenes, the ring locked trienes were employed as the conjugation bridge and electron acceptor in D-π-A units. The NMR spectra demonstrated that they existed in a cone conformation and consequently non-conjugated D-π-A units could be oriented at nearly the same direction.     

The Synthesis of Third—order Optical Nonlinear Organic Polyheterocyclic Materials

Synthesis of the third-order nonlinear materials:bis (1,4-dihydroxynaphthalene) tetrathiafulvalene and bis (1,4-dialkoxylnaphthalene) tetrathiafulvalene has been achieved in four steps, starting from 2,3-dichloro-1,4-naphthaquinone. The materials exhibit larger third-order nonlinear optical susceptibilities χ.