Hybrid materials covalently incorporated with isophorone-based dyes through sol-gel process for nonlinear optical applications

Two new push-pull type second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) active isophorone-based alkoxysilane dyes with the same acceptor were synthesized and characterized. One silane (ICTES-HEMA) bears a chromophore with a hydroxyethyl methylamino donor and the other silane (ICTES-HMPP) is a bulkier analogue with a hydroxymethyl diphenylamino donor. Transparent, homogeneous films were prepared via the copolymerization of tetraalkoxysilane (TEOS) and different NLO silanes with the ratio of 5:1. The d(33) values obtained for the HEMA and HMPP films are 46.3 and 20.6 pm/V, respectively. Normalized UV-vis spectra reveal that the introduction of a diaryl group would help to prevent unfavorable organization of the chromophores. The reorientation dynamic stabilities of the samples were studied by second-harmonic generation (SHG) measurements, demonstrating that bulkier chromophores incorporated in sol-gel materials would not necessarily lead to higher stabilities over time.     

Preparation and nonlinear optical properties of inorganic-organic hybrid films with various substituents on chromophores

Four kinds of hydroxy-ended azobenzene-type chromophores containing different substituent groups as electron donor or electron acceptor were synthesized and further reacted with 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane (ICTES) to give alkoxysilane dyes via a urethane reaction. Following a sol-gel process of the alkoxysilane dyes, the inorganic-organic hybrid nonlinear optical (NLO) films were successfully prepared. Molecular structures of the resultant films were confirmed by elemental analysis, FTIR, and 1H NMR. The betaCT mu(g) values of the chromophores were evaluated by a solvatochromic method, and the second harmonic coefficients (d33) of the hybrid films were measured by in situ second harmonic generation (SHG) measurement. The hybrid films exhibited large optical nonlinearity and full transparency in the visible range. The effects of substituent group and position on betaCT mu(g) values of the chromophores and d33 values of the films were also discussed.     

Yellow‐light‐emitting cyano‐substituted poly[(1,3‐phenylene vinylene)‐alt‐(1,4‐phenylene vinylene)] derivative: Its synthesis and optical properties

A soluble cyano‐substituted poly[(1,3‐phenylene vinylene)‐alt‐(1,4‐phenylene vinylene)] derivative ( 9 ) was synthesized and characterized. Comparison between 9 and its model compound ( 10 ) showed that the chromophore in 9 remained to be well defined as a result of a π‐conjugation interruption at adjacent m‐phenylene units. The attachment of a cyano substituent only at the β position of the vinylene allowed the maximum electronic impact of the cyano group on the optical properties of the poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) material. At a low temperature (?108 or ?198 °C), the vibronic structures of 9 and 10 were partially resolved. The absorption and emission spectra of a film of 9 were less temperature‐dependent than those of a film of 10 , indicating that the former had a lower tendency to aggregate. A light‐emitting diode (LED) based on 9 emitted yellow light (λ_max ≈ 578 nm) with an external quantum efficiency of 0.03%. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3149–3158, 2003     

二聚(2,5-噻吩乙烯撑)基态和激发态的电子结构: 桥基和芳环取代的影响

采用密度泛函理论(DFT)和含时密度泛函理论(TD-DFT)方法, 在B3LYP/TZVP水平下, 研究了一系列给电子基团(—NH2, —OCH3和—CH3)和吸电子基团(—CCH, —CN和—NO2)在二聚(2,5-噻吩乙烯撑)(2TV)的桥基和芳环上取代对基态和激发态电子结构的影响. 结果表明, 取代基的给/吸电子能力和取代位置对衍生物的几何结构以及吸收发射光谱均有重要影响, 其中氨基(—NH2)和硝基(—NO2)取代对2TV电子结构的影响较为显著. 此外, 对于桥基和芳环取代, 随着取代基吸电子能力的增强, 衍生物的前线分子轨道HOMO和LUMO的能级均呈逐渐降低的趋势.     

A relaxation study of poled nonlinear optical polymers by infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy

The relaxation of poled nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores in polymer films was characterized by infrared (i.r.) reflection-absorption spectroscopy. Both a guest-host system and a photocrosslinkable polymer system were investigated. Polymethylmethacrylate doped with either 2-methyl-4-nitroaniline or 4(4′-nitrophenylazo)aniline was studied. The photocrosslinkable polymer system, polyvinylcinnamate doped with 3-cinnamoyloxy-4-[4-(N,N-diethylamino)-2-cinnamoyloxy phenyl azo]nitrobenzene was also investigated. Doped NLO active molecules were aligned using the corona poling technique. i.r. spectra as a function of time were used to monitor the relaxation behavior of the oriented dyes after poling. Relaxation of NLO molecules was followed at various characteristic vibrational frequencies. The relaxation behavior of both systems were found to be consistent with those studied by the second harmonic generation technique.     

Self‐Assembly and Dispersion of Chromogenic Molecules: A Versatile and General Approach for Self‐Assessing Polymers

Summary: Self‐assessing polymer blends based on poly(ethylene terephthalate glycol) or linear low‐density polyethylene and small amounts (0.5–2% w/w) of chromogenic sensor dyes are prepared and investigated. The cyano‐substituted oligo(p‐phenylene vinylene) dyes employed in the study exhibit pronounced optical absorption changes upon self‐assembly, because of charge‐transfer interactions or conformation changes. The extent of dye aggregation (and therewith the optical absorption characteristics) in these blends is significantly influenced by exposure to external stimuli. Subjecting appropriately processed samples to either temperatures above their glass transition or mechanical deformation can significantly change the extent of aggregation, which in turn leads to a color change.

Mechano‐optical response of a 1.0% w/w LLDPE/C18‐RG blend film. Pristine films are orange due to aggregated dye molecules. Deformation leads to dispersion of the dye and irreversibly changes the color to yellow.     

Tailoring the donor moieties in TPA-based organic dyes for efficient photovoltaic,optical and nonlinear optical response properties

The current study reports tailoring the electronic donor structures of organic dyes to modify their optical and nonlinear optical (NLO) response properties. Five (5) tri-phenyl amine (TPA) based Donor-π-Acceptor (D-π-A) organic dyes with the codes ICAA1 , ICAA2 , ICAA3 , ICAA4 , and ICAA5 were designed and investigated for their optical and NLO properties using quantum chemical methods. Optical and NLO properties of these dyes were studied by CAM-B3LYP method and 6-311G* basis set. The focus has been on the impact of adding secondary donors and shifting their substitutions at ortho (o), meta (m) and para (p) positions. Among all designed compounds, ICAA4 showed the highest amplitude of average third-order NLO polarizability <γ>, which is calculated to be 1316 × 10⁻³⁶ esu. Time-dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) method was used to determine how a change in the position of the donor affected the excitation energy (E_g) and NLO response properties. The findings showed that changing the position of the secondary donor results in a red shift among absorption spectra as well as the increase in their NLO responses. Complete process of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) has been investigated in terms of different optical parameters such as frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), molecular electrostatic potentials (MEPs), transition density matrix (TDMs), density of states (DOS), electron density difference (EDD), and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. Our calculations for study of ICT process indicate that p-position of methoxy group performs better among all other positions and even it has better NLO response properties than the compound with three collective methoxy groups. The calculated V_oc values of all designed molecules range from 1.09 to 1.30, all of them are positive while their ΔG_inject is found to be in the range of −0.87 to −1.79 eV indicating their decent potential for photovoltaic applications. The studied optical, NLO and photovoltaic parameters illustrated that ICAA1 to ICAA5 are appropriate molecules not only for NLO applications but also for efficient photovoltaic purposes.     

Aligned inclusion of hemicyanine dyes into silica zeolite films for second harmonic generation

Silicalite-1 films (thickness = 400 nm) supported on both sides of glass plates (SL/G) were prepared, and hemicyanine dyes (HC-n) with different alkyl chain lengths (n, n = 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 22, and 24) were included into the silicalite-1 films by dipping SL/Gs into each methanol solution of HC-n (1 mM) for 1 d. The included numbers of HC-n per channel (N(C)) generally decreased with increasing n; that is, they were 6.4, 23.1, 15.4, 8.2, 5.7, 3.5, 0.9, and 1.2 molecules per channel, respectively. The d(33) value gradually increased with increasing n but decreased when n > 18; that is, they were 1.12, 0.50, 2.25, 3.59, 4.99, 5.30, 1.71, and 2.57 pm V(-1), respectively. However, d(33)/N(C) progressively increased with increasing n. The d(31) values were approximately 100 times smaller than the corresponding d(33) values, and the average d(33)/d(31) ratio was 109, which is higher than those of Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films and poled polymers of nonlinear optical (NLO) dyes, by approximately 2-5 and approximately 30-50 times, respectively. The estimated average tilted angle of the dyes with respect to the channel direction was 7.7 degrees, and the calculated average order parameter was 0.97, which is approximately 480 times higher than the values observed from poled polymers. The degree of uniform alignment (DUA) generally increased with increasing n. The progressive increase of both DUA and d(33)/N(C) with n is attributed to the increase in the tendency of HC-n to enter hydrophobic silicalite-1 channels with the hydrophobic alkyl chain first. A more than 134-fold increase in DUA was observed upon increasing n from 6 to 24. The DUA of HC-24 in the silicalite-1 film reached close to 1. Although the observed d(33) values were lower than those of the LB films of NLO dyes due to very small dye densities of the silicalite films, this methodology bears a great potential to be developed into the methods for preparing practically viable NLO films.     

Organic electroluminescent and nonlinear optical materials

The multilayer electroluminescent(EL) devices composed of vacuum-sublimed organic films are discussed with the aims of achieving high luminance and proposing an optical micro-cavity. For the former purpose, requirements for confinements of carriers and excitons within the thin emissive layer are shown by taking accounts of ionization potentials, electron affinities and excitation energies in organic thin films. Concerning the interference effect of emitted light, we show the variation in the intensity of emission and a strongly directional light from the micro-cavity. Second-order nonlinear optical(NLO) films are designed by preparing noncentrosymmetric LB multilayers composed of an pyrazine derivative with large hyperpolarizability and arachidic acid. Third-order nonlinear optical(NLO) films are proposed by using polyarylenevinylene films. In order to fabricate excellent third-order nonlinear optical(NLO) films, highly oriented polyarylenevinylene films are prepared by using a LB technique.     

Efficient Nonlinear Optical Properties of Dyes Confined in Interlayer Nanospaces of Clay Minerals

Nonlinear optical (NLO) responses from organic dyes can be maximized when the dyes are aligned in appropriate manners in bulk materials. The use of restricted nanospaces provided by interlayer spacing of inorganic layered materials is a promising strategy for imposing suitable molecular alignments for NLO materials on dyes. The hybrid materials thus obtained exhibit salient NLO responses owing to the improved molecular orientation. In some cases, extension of the π‐electron system as a consequence of improved molecular planarity, obtained by the intercalation of a dye into the 2‐dimensional interlayer space of an inorganic layered material, is also observed as a factor that enhances NLO responses of chromophores at the molecular level. This review focuses on recent progress in the strategies for controlling the molecular orientation of NLO‐phores by employing clay minerals, which are one of the typical inorganic layered materials. In addition, development of a means for fabricating composites that satisfy the properties of an optical material, such as a sufficient size and thickness, a flat surface, and low light‐scattering characteristics is required to utilize the superior NLO properties observed for clay/dye hybrid materials for practical applications. A novel means for obtaining such a hybrid material is also outlined.     

聚酰亚胺多层膜的制备及其在非线性光学中的应用

报道了一种通过旋涂制备NLO聚合物多层膜的方法.紫外-可见吸收光谱及膜的厚度表征说明,在所得多层膜的结构中,聚合物单层膜的厚度可以较好地控制在100~200nm之间,所得含有5个双层的NLO多层膜(厚度1.6μm)具有良好的结构均一性,光学显微镜下没有观察到明显的结构缺陷.与单层具有较大厚度的NLO聚合物薄膜(如2~4μm)相比,所得聚合物多层膜可以允许掺杂更多的发色团而不发生相分离.     

Effects of Donor and Acceptor on Optoelectronic Performance for Porphyrin Derivatives: Nonlinear Optical Properties and Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

Typical asymmetric donor-π-bridge-acceptor(D-π-A) zinc porphyrin dyes have been synthesized, and further modified by reacting the ethynyl groups of them with click reagent through a formal [2+2] click reaction. The electronic interaction between the push and pull electronic groups and the click reaction process were investigated by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. The nonlinear optical(NLO) properties of the dyes were studied by the Z-scan technique and clearly reverse saturable absorption to saturable absorption(RSA-SA) transition could be observed through click reaction of the dyes with TCNE. Furthermore, the photovoltaic properties of these porphyrin dyes were reaso- nably explained by the J-V curve fitting based on the equivalent-circuit model as well as the comparison between the absorption and incident-photon-to-current-conversion efficiency(IPCE) spectra. Besides, these dyes with different donors or acceptors could self-assembly into different microstructures by phase transfer methodology.     

金属有机骨架薄膜材料的三阶非线性光学性能研究进展

金属有机骨架(MOFs)材料因其可设计的结构以及灵活可控的配位模式,在三阶非线性光学(NLO)领域引起了广泛的关注。与液体分散状态相比,MOFs在固体状态下的三阶NLO性能更为重要,这不仅可以深入了解MOFs本身所固有的光学性能,还有助于实现MOFs在光学器件中的实际应用。然而,由于散射的存在和透光率的限制,单独的MOFs材料难以直接实现固体状态下的三阶NLO性能研究,将MOFs制备成具有较好光学透过性的薄膜是研究其NLO性能最为可行的一种策略。MOFs薄膜不仅很好地继承了MOFs所固有的三阶NLO性能,而且还结合了薄膜的高透光率以及灵活的机械性能。基于此,本文分析总结了MOFs薄膜的制备方法及其NLO性能研究方面的相关工作,并根据目前MOFs薄膜在三阶NLO性能方面的研究现状对其未来发展予以了展望。     

金属有机骨架薄膜材料的三阶非线性光学性能研究进展

金属有机骨架(MOFs)材料因其可设计的结构以及灵活可控的配位模式,在三阶非线性光学(NLO)领域引起了广泛的关注。与液体分散状态相比,MOFs在固体状态下的三阶NLO性能更为重要,这不仅可以深入了解MOFs本身所固有的光学性能,还有助于实现MOFs在光学器件中的实际应用。然而,由于散射的存在和透光率的限制,单独的MOFs材料难以直接实现固体状态下的三阶NLO性能研究,将MOFs制备成具有较好光学透过性的薄膜是研究其NLO性能最为可行的一种策略。MOFs薄膜不仅很好地继承了MOFs所固有的三阶NLO性能,而且还结合了薄膜的高透光率以及灵活的机械性能。基于此,本文分析总结了MOFs薄膜的制备方法及其NLO性能研究方面的相关工作,并根据目前MOFs薄膜在三阶NLO性能方面的研究现状对其未来发展予以了展望。     

Dendronized tricyanopyrroline‐based chromophores in nonlinear optical active host polymer

We synthesized new nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores containing a 3,5‐bis(3,5‐bisbenzyloxy‐benzyloxy)‐benzoate dendron. Tricyanopyrroline (TCP)‐based chromophores were designed and prepared by virtue of its strong electron withdrawing property. A soluble polyimide containing 6‐({4‐[2‐(1‐allyl‐4‐cyano‐5‐dicyanomethylene‐2‐oxo‐2,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐3‐yl)‐vinyl]‐phenyl}‐butyl‐amino)‐hexanoyl group in the side chain was also prepared as an NLO active host polymer. A benzoate dendron was tethered at two different binding positions of the chromophore to yield two different guest molecules. Thin‐film composites of these dendronized chromophores dissolved in the NLO active polyimide host were employed to fabricate the electro‐optic (EO) samples. The EO properties of new NLO polyimides containing dendronized chromophores were compared with those of the sample with nondendronized plain chromophores. The effect of a bulky dendron on the EO properties was investigated using an in situ reflection technique. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5064–5076, 2008     

异氰酸酯交联的环氧树脂基二阶非线性光学聚合物

通过双酚A 二 (缩水甘油醚 )与苯胺的逐步聚合反应合成环氧树脂类先驱聚合物BPAN ,进一步通过先驱聚合物的后重氮偶合反应 ,制备了侧链带偶氮生色团的二阶非线性光学聚合物BPAN 1A NT .将BPAN 1A NT与适当量的异氰酸酯交联剂M2 0S混合 ,得到了双组分非线性光学聚合物体系BPAN 1A NT M2 0S .该体系在电场极化的同时可发生交联固化 ,极化后其二阶非线性光学系数高达 10 5 2pm v(λ =1 0 6 4 μm) ,同时还具有很好的极化偶极取向稳定性 ,2 0 0℃时的非线性光学系数仍可维持在初始的 80 %以上 .上述双组分非线性光学聚合物材料 (BPAN 1A NT M2 0S)同时具有高二阶非线性光学系数和高极化偶极取向稳定温度 ,可以预期 ,在聚合物电光调制器、光开关等器件中将有很好的应用前景 .     

Interpenetrating polymer networks with stable second order nonlinear optical properties

Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) based on polyurethane and polyacrylate-containing 4-(4'-nitrophenylazo) aniline chromophore groups were synthesized and characterized by infrared spectra, gel content and differential scanning calorimetry. Thin, transparent films of the IPNs were prepared by spin-coating, followed by thermal curing and corona poling. The poled IPN film shows very good optical properties and exhibits only one glass transition temperature. The second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of the poled film were studied by visible light absorbance measurement according to one-dimensional rigid oriented gas model. The second-order nonlinear optical polarizability can reach 10^-7 e.s.u. The poled IPN film of defined composition showed a good temporal stability of NLO properties at 120°C for more than 160 hr.     

A facile approach to prepare soluble side‐chain polyimides for second‐order nonlinear optics

A simple and generally applicable new synthetic method to prepare second‐order nonlinear optical (NLO) polyimides has been developed. In this approach, side‐chain‐substituted polyimides were synthesized via isocyanato‐terminated prepolymers prepared directly from NLO chromophore‐containing diols Disperse Red 19. Using this technique, the tedious synthesis of the classical diamine monomers and harsh imidization process associated with polyamic acid prepolymers are avoided. The resulting polymers possessed good solubility and high glass‐transition (171–211 °C) and thermal‐decomposition temperatures. The polymers also exhibited excellent film‐forming properties, and good optical‐quality films were easily obtained by spin coating. The second‐order NLO activities of the polymer films were also studied, and several factors that might determine the growth of the second‐order NLO activity were proposed. The polymers obtained exhibit a large second‐order NLO activity (34–52.5 pm/V at 1064 nm). © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2189–2195, 2001     

Near-infrared aminocyanine dyes: synthesis,optical properties,and application to the preparation of fluorescent microspheres

Several near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dyes based on aminocyanine have been designed, synthesized, and used for preparation of NIR fluorescent microspheres. Their spectral properties and pH-dependent optical characteristics were investigated. It was found that different substitution at the central position of the dyes led to diverse optical properties, with especially large effects on their spectroscopic properties. Spectroscopic responses of the fluorescent dyes to changes of pH were different. Under acidic conditions, the wavelengths of maximum absorption of the N-substituted cyanine dyes were clearly red shifted. Dyes with an N-substituted piperazidine ring were the most sensitive. The fluorescent microspheres retained the properties of the parent dyes, making them suitable for applications in biological studies.