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.     

Self-assembled graphene/azo polyelectrolyte multilayer film and its application in electrochemical energy storage device

Graphene/azo polyelectrolyte multilayer films were fabricated through electrostatic layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly, and their performance as electrochemical capacitor electrode was investigated. Cationic azo polyelectrolyte (QP4VP-co-PCN) was synthesized through radical polymerization, postpolymerization azo coupling reaction, and quaternization. Negatively charged graphene nanosheets were prepared by a chemically modified method. The LbL films were obtained by alternately dipping a piece of the pretreated substrates in the QP4VP-co-PCN and nanosheet solutions. The processes were repeated until the films with required numbers of bilayers were obtained. The self-assembly and multilayer surface morphology were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, AFM, SEM, and TEM. The performance of the LbL films as electrochemical capacitor electrode was estimated using cyclic voltammetry. Results show that the graphene nanosheets are densely packed in the multilayers and form random graphene network. The azo polyelectrolyte cohesively interacts with the nanosheets in the multilayer structure, which prevents agglomeration of graphene nanosheets. The sheet resistance of the LbL films decreases with the increase of the layer numbers and reaches the stationary value of 1.0 × 10(6) Ω/square for the film with 15 bilayers. At a scanning rate of 50 mV/s, the LbL film with 9 bilayers shows a gravimetric specific capacitance of 49 F/g in 1.0 M Na(2)SO(4) solution. The LbL films developed in this work could be a promising type of the electrode materials for electric energy storage devices.     

Characterization of a side chain polymer for second‐order nonlinear optical properties

We report the characterization of copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2‐propenoic acid, 2‐methyl‐, 2‐[[[[4‐methyl‐3‐[[(2‐methyl‐4‐nitrophenyl)amino]carbonyl]aminophenyl]carbonyl]oxy]ethyl ester (PAMEE) exhibiting nonlinear optical (NLO) properties. The linear copolymer, poly(MMA‐co‐PAMEE), with a NLO chromophore incorporated into PAMME exhibits a high glass transition temperature of 131°C, as determined by DSC. The thin films of copolymers, which were cast on microscopic glass slides, were optically transparent, and the corona poled polymers produced relatively large and stable second harmonic generation (SHG) signals at room temperature. The nonlinear coefficient d₃₃ of the crosslinked copolymer containing 30 wt % PAMEE was 30.8 pm/V. The SHG signal strength remained unchanged, even after 120 days, and exhibited excellent thermal stability at 65°C. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1245–1254, 1999     

Third-order nonlinear optical properties of azo dye attached polymers

Third-order nonlinear optical properties of a disazo dye attached polymer (3R) were evaluated and compared with that of a monoazo (Disperse Red 1) dye attached polymer (2R). The third-order nonlinear optical coefficient (ξ⁽³⁾) of the 3R is more than three times higher than that of the 2R over the fundamental wavelengths between 1.5 and 2.0 μm. This is explained by π-conjugation elongation. For both polymers, the ξ⁽³⁾ dependence on the fundamental wavelength corresponds to their absorption spectra. This is attributable to a three-photon resonance effect. At the 1.50 μm resonant wavelength, the maximum ξ⁽³⁾ of 4.8 × 10^-11 esu is obtained for 3R at a dye content of 17 mol%.     

Compounds with potential second order non-linear optical activity

The synthesis is described of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane and piperazine derivatives of potential interest for second-order NL optical activity.     

Square-planar d8 metal mixed-ligand dithiolene complexes as second order nonlinear optical chromophores: Structure/property relationship

The structure/property relationship of square-planar d⁸ metal push/pull mixed-ligand dithiolene complexes is discussed to provide suitable tools to chemists for tailoring compounds with predictable optical properties. These complexes exhibit a typical HOMO–LUMO electronic transition which falls at low energies (vis–NIR region). Substituents at the dithiolene core affect the energy of the frontier orbitals and mixed-ligand complexes based on two different ligands give rise to an asymmetric-symmetric distribution of the charge according to the differences in the push/pull character of the two ligands. Where the push/pull character of the two ligands is significantly different, a π localized electron distribution occurs. The pull ligand (dithiolate) contributes mostly to the HOMO, the push ligand (dithione) mostly to the LUMO, and the HOMO–LUMO transition has ligand-to-ligand charge-transfer (CT) character with some contribution of the metal. These chromophores exhibit negative solvatochromism and molecular first hyperpolarizability.Where the difference in the push/pull character of the two ligands is small, a π delocalized electron distribution occurs and the chromophores exhibit optical features typical of symmetrical complexes (NIR dyes, no second order NLO activity).Structural data, spectroscopic and electrochemical features reflect the π-delocalized/localized electron distribution, and suitable markers such as λ_max, ?; ν(CC); reduction potentials work well to distinguish the limiting forms and to predict optical properties.Analogies in the optical features exhibited by d⁸ metal diimino–dithiolate complexes are highlighted.     

Efficient, thermally stable, second order nonlinear optical response in organic hybrid covalent/ionic self-assembled films

A covalent/electrostatic layer-by-layer self-assembly method was used to achieve polar ordering of a water soluble, reactive dye in the fabrication of nonlinear optical (NLO) films. We observed a quadratic relationship between the second harmonic intensity I2(omega) and bilayer number for all films made with Procion Brown MX-GRN, demonstrating that the polar ordering of the chromophores is consistent in each successive bilayer. As the ionic strength of the dye deposition solution was increased to 0.5 M NaCl, the of the films increased by approximately 250% to 50 x 10(-9) esu, with a corresponding average chromophore tilt angle of 38 degrees . This was attributed to increased shielding of the dye charges which led to higher chromophore density in the bilayers. The electrooptic coefficient for films of 50 bilayers fabricated at 0.5 M NaCl was 14 +/- 2 pm/V. Importantly, these films exhibited excellent thermal stability, with only a 10% decrease in (I2(omega))(1/2) after 36 h at 85 degrees C and then 24 h at 150 degrees C. Furthermore, the (I2(omega))(1/2) recovered completely upon cooling to room temperature. These results with a commodity textile dye point to the potential value of this class of reactive chromophores and this self-assembly method for fabrication of electrooptic materials at ambient conditions from aqueous solutions.     

Synthesis and nonlinear optical properties of hyperbranched polytriazole containing second‐order nonlinear optical chromophore

The hyperbranched polytriazole (hb‐PTA) containing second‐order nonlinear optical chromophore was synthesized through “A₂ + B₃” approach based on “click reaction.” Its corresponding linear analogue (l‐PTA) was prepared for comparison. The hb‐PTA has better solubility in common organic solvents than the l‐PTA. Both the polymers exhibit good thermal stability with 5% weight loss temperatures over 260 °C. The poled film of hb‐PTA exhibits much higher second‐harmonic coefficient (96.8 pm/V) than that of l‐PTA (23.5 pm/V). The three‐dimensional spatial isolation effect resulting from the highly branched structure and the crosslinking of the terminal acetylene groups at moderate temperature play important roles in the enhancement of optical nonlinearity. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1140–1148, 2008     

Study of nonlinear optical properties of multilayer Langmuir-Blodgett films containing bacteriorhodopsin

Multilayer oriented Langmuir-Blodgett films of bacteriorhodopsin were prepared and their nonlinear optical properties, including second harmonic generation and photoresponse at a two phase-modulated beams mixing, were investigated. The nonlinear component of refractive index of the films was measured.     

Benzo-bisimidazole based nanosheets having porphyrin like internal core with high second order nonlinear optical response: A theoretical perspective

The 2D network having porphyrin like internal core are well established in literature due to their remarkable molecular tunability, photophysical and optoelectronics properties. Therefore, in the quest to attain the high performance nonlinear optical (NLO) response we have designed single Benzo-bisimidazole (BIZ) unit which has porphyrin like motif and expanded it strategically in such a way that it forms cage and further it convert into 2D nanosheet. Density functional theory (DFT), sum-over-state models and time dependent-DFT (TD-DFT) simulation were performed for geometric and electronic properties calculation. Expanding the BIZ plays a pivotal role in enhancement of the first static hyperpolarizability (β_tot) from 205.65 to 13754.59 au. Further, alkali metals substitution leads to gigantic enhancement of β_tot value from 2200.17 to 636673.60 au which is enormously higher than that of recently reported porphyrin derivative (47950 au). Calculated results revealed that the gap between highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) become narrow down from 6.28 eV ( 1 ) to 1.70 eV ( 6 ). It is to note that the designed molecules exhibit red shift of absorption. Further, density of states (DOS), and transition density matrix (TDM) analysis have also performed to explore the charge transfer and structure property relationship.     

Preparation of polymer optical fibers doped with nonlinear optical active organic chromophores

We synthesized two novel organic nonlinear optical chromophores—chiral S(+)‐N‐[p‐(4‐nitrostyryl) phenyl] prolinol and non‐chiral [p‐(4‐nitrostyryl) phenyl] piperdine—as potential laser‐active dyes for photonic applications. Both materials show good optical transmittance in the telecommunication frequency region, desirable solubility in acrylic polymer optical fiber matrices, and attractive fluorescence properties that are advantageous for laser‐gain materials and devices. Subsequently, these two chromophores were incorporated into poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(ethyl methacrylate) and drawn into polymer optical fibers. The relevant properties of these organic dye‐doped fibers have been studied, revealing essential attributes of laser‐active characteristics. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 1794–1801, 2001     

含噻唑环偶氮类非线性光学分子的合成表征与互变异构的研究

本文合成了一种新的具有非线性光学性质的化合物1,8-二羟基-4(5-硝基-2-噻唑基) 偶氮 -9,10-二氢蒽.用1H-NMR,13C-NMR,IR,UV-Vis等对其结构和性能进行了表征.用溶致变色法测定了其二阶极化率(βct)值,在波长1064nm处,βct值为109×10-30esu.本文还讨论了该化合物在不同...     

Photorefractive polymer composites based on nanosized nonlinear optical chromophores

Photorefractive (PR) polymer composites based on polymers with a high glass transition temperature in which the random distribution of a photosensitizer and a nonlinear optical chromophore as dopants is “frozen” were designed. In the case of the random distribution of chromophores, only the third-order electric susceptibility has a nonzero value. Therefore, nanosized structures having high third-order polarizability due to an extended conjugated-bond system (or cooperative electronic excitation) were used as nonlinear chromophores. Good PR characteristics are displayed by polymeric composites containing nanosized structures, such as cyanine dye J aggregates, supramolecular assemblies of ruthenium(II) complexes, and single-wall carbon nanotubes. The use of extended nanosized chromophores as simultaneous spectral sensitizers allowed polymer composites with PR sensitivity in the near IR region at 1064 and 1550 nm to be designed.     

Azo dye doped polymer films for nonlinear optical applications

Azo dye doped polymer films were prepared on glass substrates using spin-coating technique. FTIR, UV-Vis spectra and PL measurements were recorded to characterize the structure of the metanil yellow doped PVA films. Surface morphology and thickness of the films were studied using AFM and FESEM. The magnitude of both real and imaginary parts of third-order nonlinear susceptibility χ3 of metanil yellow were determined by the Z-scan technique. The nonlinear refractive index n2 and the nonlinear absorption coefficient β of the azo dye doped polymer films were calculated respectively. The real part of the third-order susceptibility χ3 is much larger than its imaginary part indicating that the third-order optical response of the metanil yellow doped PVA films is dominated by the optical nonlinear refractive behavior.     

Estimation of electrostriction coefficients of a nonlinear optical polymer electret

The effect of organic chromophores incorporated into a polymer electret and responsible for its nonlinear optical (NLO) response to an applied electric field on the electrostriction coefficients (ESC) of the material is studied. Analytical expressions for the ESC were derived in the framework of a model proposed earlier, which includes the effect of a locally anisotropic, polarizable and deformable environment on the electric characteristics of the chromophore. The dependence of the ESC on both macroscopic and microscopic parameters of the molecular system is established. Numerical estimates of the ESC for poly(methyl methacrylate) doped with the dye Disperse Red 1 and dimethylaminonitrostilbene-doped polycarbonate agree with experimental data in order of magnitude. The relations obtained can be used in the design of novel organic NLO materials. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1324–1329, July, 2008.     

Calix[4]arenes as molecules for second order nonlinear optics

Abstract

The synthesis of a novel class of molecules for second order nonlinear optics, i.e. calix[4]arenes with extended π-systems, is described. These compounds are obtained via Wittig-Horner reactions of the formylated calix[4]arenes 5 and 6 to give the stilbene derivatives 7–9, or by diazotization of calix[4]arene, 1, followed by alkylation to give the phenylazocalix[4]arenes 11 and 12. The molecular second order nonlinear optical properties (β_z) of these calix[4]arenes have been measured by electric field-induced second harmonic generation. The influence of different acceptors as well as the influence of the different conformations of the calix[4]arenes on β_z values were determined. Surprisingly, the wavelength of the charge-transfer band λ_max is lower when β_z increases upon increasing the number of acceptors.     

Crystal growth,spectroscopic, second and third order nonlinear optical spectroscopic studies of L-phenylalanine doped ammonium dihydrogen phosphate single crystals

The frequency doubling and tripling can be reached for Nd:YAG laser beam using the single crystal of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP). The growth and characterization of pure and L-phenylalanine doped ADP crystals are considered in the present contribution. The transparent good quality single crystals are grown using low temperature solution growth technique. The functional group alteration is studied using FT-IR spectroscopy. The larger improvement is observed in linear and nonlinear optical properties of ADP crystals on doping by L-phenylalanine. The reduction in charge carrier density is observed in photoconductivity spectra of all the grown crystals.     

Electric-field-induced fabrication of covalently linked second-order nonlinear optical multilayer films on nonconductive substrates

A highly stable second-order nonlinear optical multilayer film was constructed on insulating substrates using the electric-field-induced layer-by-layer assembly technique. The substrates used in this method could be arbitrary. In another, the substrates could be modified with polyanion solution by spin coating as cladding layer. Then, the nonlinear optical multilayer films were assembled on the cladding layer directly by the electric-field-induced layer-by-layer assembly technique. The resulting cross-linked multilayer films fabricated by this method displayed high optical transparency, good thermal stability, and excellent nonlinear optical properties which can be made into waveguide devices directly.     

Broadband optical limiting and nonlinear optical absorption properties of a novel hyperbranched conjugated polymer

The nonlinear transmittance of a novel hyperbranched conjugated polymer named DMA-HPV has been measured in CHCl₃ solution using a nanosecond optical parametric oscillator. DMA-HPV shows excellent optical limiting performance in the visible region from 490 to 610 nm. An explanation based on the combination of two-photon absorption and reverse saturable absorption was proposed for its huge and broadband nonlinear optical absorption.     

Click chemistry‐based synthesis of azo polymers for second‐order nonlinear optics

Four linear polymers containing pendant azo moiety were synthesized through click chemistry for second‐order nonlinear optical study. The polymers were found soluble in most of the polar organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), chloroform, and dimethyl formamide (DMF). The polymers showed thermal stability up to 300 °C and glass transition temperatures (T_g) in the range of 120–140 °C. The molecular weights (M_w) of these polymers (measured by gel permeation chromatography) were in the range 37,900–55,000 g/mol. The polymers were found to form optically transparent films by solution casting from THF solution. Order parameters were calculated from UV–vis absorption spectra. The morphology changes in the films after poling were characterized by atomic force microscopy. The angular dependence, temperature dependence, and time dependence of second harmonic generation (SHG) intensity were obtained by using 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser. The SHG intensity remained unchanged up to 95 °C. At room temperature, it remained stable up to 8 days after initial drop of about 14%. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012