Effect of conjugation path length on quadratic nonlinear optical properties of monomer and aggregates of zwitterionic merocyanine dyes

We present a quantum-chemical analysis of the conjugation path length effect on first hyperpolarizabilities of a series of zwitterionic merocyanine dyes whose synthesis has been reported earlier (J. Am. Chem. Soc.2002, 124, 9431, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1997, 119, 3144). The effect of the conjugation path lengths is evaluated to demonstrate the engineering guidelines for enhancing molecular optical nonlinearity. The first hyperpolarizabilities are calculated for extended conjugated monomer and H and J type aggregates of merocyanine dyes, to provide insight into the intermolecular interactions and the relationship between structural and collective nonlinear optical properties. The molecular geometries for monomers are obtained via B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level optimization including the SCRF/PCM approach, and the dynamic nonlinear optical (NLO) properties for monomer and aggregates are calculated with the ZINDO/CV method, including solvent effects. It is found that the chain length dependence of the first nonlinearity peaks at n = 6 and then it starts changing slowly for monomer and aggregates of zwitterionic merocyanine dyes. It is concluded that an excellent NLO response in solution might vanish when the active chromophore forms higher H aggregates. The importance of our results on the design of electrooptic materials has been discussed.     

Highly unusual effects of pi-conjugation extension on the molecular linear and quadratic nonlinear optical properties of ruthenium(II) ammine complexes

We have used several techniques, including hyper-Rayleigh scattering and Stark spectroscopy, to investigate the effects of polyene chain length on the optical properties of complexes containing ruthenium(II) electron donor groups and pyridinium electron acceptors. In marked contrast with all other known donor-acceptor polyenes, conjugation extension beyond a single double bond in the dipolar complexes studied leads to blue-shifting of the intramolecular charge-transfer absorptions. Furthermore, the static first hyperpolarizabilities beta0 become maximized with trans-1,3-butadienyl linkages and then decrease in complexes with three CH=CH bonds. Our results clearly demonstrate that the molecular engineering criteria for metal-containing nonlinear optical chromophores can differ dramatically from those for purely organic compounds.     

Contrasting linear and quadratic nonlinear optical behavior of dipolar pyridinium chromophores with 4-(dimethylamino)phenyl or ruthenium(II) ammine electron donor groups

In this article, we contrast the optical properties of dipolar chromophores having 4-(dimethylamino)phenyl electron donor (D) and pyridinium acceptor (A) groups with those of closely related cations having pyridyl-coordinated Ru(II) donors. A range of physical data, including that from Stark (electroabsorption) spectroscopy, permits unprecedented quantitative comparisons, most notably regarding the effects of extension of bridging polyene chains. The purely organic compounds display normal optical properties in that their intense, visible pi --> pi intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) bands red-shift as the number of E-ethylene units (n) increases from 1 to 3 and the associated static first hyperpolarizabilities beta(0) increase steadily with n. The related Ru(II) complexes show intense, visible d --> pi metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) bands, which are found to lower energy when compared with the ICT transitions of the corresponding organics. Abnormally, these MLCT bands blue-shift as n increases, and beta(0) maximizes at n = 2. Time-dependent density-functional theory and finite field calculations verify these empirical trends for both types of compound, which can be rationalized as arising from the differing orbital structures of the chromophores and the associated degrees of D-A electronic coupling.     

Theoretical insight into linear optical and two-photon absorption properties for a series of N-arylpyrrole-based dyes

N-arylpyrrole-based dyes possessing excellent opto-electronic properties are promising candidates for two-photon fluorescence labeling materials. The systematic investigation of novel N-arylpyrrole derivatives is of great importance for both fine-tuning electronic spectra and designing two-photon absorption (2PA) materials. We thoroughly studied influences of the π-conjugated center and N-substituted pyrrole moieties on the linear optical and 2PA properties. Our results show that introducing N-arylpyrrole produces bathochromic-shifts of the absorption and emission bands and an enhancement of the 2PA cross section (δ(max)), demonstrating that the electron-rich pyrrole moieties can efficiently increase intramolecular charge transfer. Substitution of fluorenyl with benzothiadiazole produces the lower energy gap, higher emission lifetime, red-shift of 2PA spectra and larger δ(max). The absorption and emission bands are highly dependent on the nature of the active building blocks. The aromatic rings attached to pyrrole can modulate the absorption peaks in the high energy and thus subtly modify the electronic properties.     

Structural elucidation, optical, magnetic and nonlinear optical properties of oxystyryl dyes

Structure, magnetic and optical properties of tetraphenylborate salts of 2,5-[1-methyl-4-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]piridinium]-propane and butane are performed in gas and condense phase by means of solution and solid-state conventional and linear-polarized IR-spectroscopy of oriented colloids in nematic liquid crystal suspension, UV-vis and fluorescence methods, HPLC tandem ESI mess spectrometry (MS/MS), (1)H, (13)C and (1)H-(1)H COSY NMR, TGV and DSC methods. Quantum chemical DFT calculations are used for performing of the structures, optical and nonlinear optical properties of the studied compounds.     

Variational calculation of vibrational linear and nonlinear optical properties

A variational approach for reliably calculating vibrational linear and nonlinear optical properties of molecules with large electrical and/or mechanical anharmonicity is introduced. This approach utilizes a self-consistent solution of the vibrational Schrodinger equation for the complete field-dependent potential-energy surface and, then, adds higher-level vibrational correlation corrections as desired. An initial application is made to static properties for three molecules of widely varying anharmonicity using the lowest-level vibrational correlation treatment (i.e., vibrational M?ller-Plesset perturbation theory). Our results indicate when the conventional Bishop-Kirtman perturbation method can be expected to break down and when high-level vibrational correlation methods are likely to be required. Future improvements and extensions are discussed.     

Theoretical study in gas phase of linear and nonlinear optical properties of the ortho-, meta- and para-nitrophenol isomers

The linear (α), and nonlinear (β, γ) optical NLO properties of ortho-, meta- and para-nitrophenol (ONP, MNP and PNP) isomers have been calculated in gas phase by using ab initio (HF, MP2 and MP4) and density functional theory (DFT) (B3LYP, CAM-B3LYP) methods, with the 6-31+G(d,p) and 6-311+G(3d,3p) standard and the Sadlej specialized basis sets. These properties were evaluated both at static and at dynamic regime within the finite field FF numerical techniques and the time-dependent-Hartree–Fock approach at 1,910 nm, respectively. Additional calculations were performed for the β static hyperpolarizability of these isomers in presence of p-dioxane solvent with the Onsager Model and the SCRF-PCM approach, using B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) and MP2/6-31+G(d,p) levels of theory. Additionally, CCSD/6-31+G(d,p) calculations were performed for the α, β and γ properties of PNP isomer. The B3LYP and MP2 α _ave results of the nitrophenol isomers are comparable to the experimental α _ave reports; while the tendency for the β _v calculated values (β _v PNP > β _v MNP > β _v ONP), that can be explained in terms of the O _x atomic charge of the –NO₂ group, does not follow exactly the experimental ones. The B3LYP γ _ave results are in correspondence to the experimental measurements, the correlation of which is r ² = 0.99. The use of FF methodology in conjunction with the B3LYP and MP2 methods and the 6-31+G(d,p) basis set show to be appropriate approaches to predict qualitative optical properties of Push–Pull like organic molecules, provided are considered the solvent effects or frequency dependence. However, to have a clear picture of the NLO properties of an isolated molecule, higher order correlation effects combined with specialized basis sets, frequency and solvent effects should be employed. We have demonstrated that MP4/Sadlej level of theory is able to reproduce NLO properties that can be considered equivalent to those from more sophisticated approaches, such as CCSD together with extended basis sets.     

N-取代螺旋共轭化合物非线性光学性质的理论研究

以量子化学半经验AM1方法优化几何构型为基础，采用FF／AMl和INDO-SOS方法计算了N-取代螺旋共轭化合物的非线性光学系数，讨论了N原子不同取代位置对螺旋共轭体系结构、电子光谱、非线性光学系数的影响．计算结果表明，N杂原子的引入可改善体系的非线性光学性质，所设计的分子具有较大的二阶非线性光学系数和较好的透明性．     

Theoretical study on the considerable second-order nonlinear optical properties of naphthylimido-substituted hexamolybdates

The static first hyperpolarizabilities and origin of nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of [(2-methylnaphthyl)imido]hexamolybdates derivatives have been investigated by density functional theory (DFT). The [(2-methylnaphthyl)imido]hexamolybdate has considerable large first hyperpolarizability, 6.780 x 10(-30) esu, and it is larger than that of [(2,6-dimethylphenyl)arylimido]hexamolybdate due to the double aromatic rings in the naphthylimido ligand. The naphthylimido ligand acts as an electron-donor and the polyanion acts as an electron-acceptor. The substituent position on the naphthylimido is a key factor to determine the first hyperpolarizability of (naphthylimido)hexamolybdate derivatives. The derivative, which the iodine atom locates on the para nitrogen on the naphthylimido ligand, has the largest betao(o) value among the iodine-substituted derivatives. It suggests that the iodine atom is quasi linear with nitrogen and Mo, which is bonded to thenitrogen atom, could generate a large static electronic field and give the large contribution to NLO response.The introducing of electron-donors significantly enhances the first hyperpolarizabilities of (naphthylimido)hexamolybdates comparing with the electron-acceptors as the electron-donating ability is significantly enhanced when the electron-donor is attached to the naphthylimido segment. The present investigation provides important insight into NLO properties of (arylimido)molybdate derivatives.     

Theoretical study on the second-order nonlinear optical properties of asymmetric spirosilabifluorene derivatives

The equilibrium geometries of four asymmetric spirosilabifluorene derivatives are optimized by means of the DFT/B3LYP method with the 6-31G* basis sets in this paper. On the basis of the optimized structures, the electronic structure and second-order nonlinear optical properties are calculated by using time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT) based on the 6-31G* level combined with the sum-over-states (SOS) method. The results show that these compounds possess remarkably larger molecular second-order polarizabilities than typical organometallic and organic compounds, and replacement of a carbon atom with nitrogen within the conjugated substituent has a great influence on the second-order nonlinear optical properties. Analysis of the main contributions to the second-order polarizability suggests that charge transfer from the z-axis directions plays a key role in the nonlinear optical response. These compounds have a possibility to be excellent second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) materials from the standpoint of large beta values, small dipole moment, high transparency, and small dispersion behaviors.     

Role of spatial distortions on the quadratic nonlinear optical properties of octupolar organic and metallo-organic molecules

Following on the recent experimental demonstration of a discrepancy between the nonlinear optical (NLO) behavior of several pi-conjugated chromophores and their assumed octupolar symmetry, the authors investigate how geometrical distortions influence the NLO response of multipolar push-pull molecules. Their analytical model is set on a basis of valence-bond and charge-transfer states to estimate the hyperpolarizability of organic and metallo-organic chromophores using the lowest possible number of variables. Since symmetry breakdown changes the definition of the molecular Cartesian framework, tensorial spherical coordinates are implemented. The evolution of the nonlinear molecular anisotropy with possible rotational deviations is then evaluated for two recently studied chromophores. Zero-frequency calculations show that, outside optical resonance, weak geometrical distortions lead to strong anisotropy variations in agreement with experimental data. Their goal is to underscore which molecular engineering strategies should be applied when designing a photoisomerizable nonlinear octupole.     

Structural, spectral, linear and nonlinear optical properties of new nonlinear optical L-histidinium trichloroacetate crystals

Single crystals of a new histidinium salt: L-histidinium trichloroacetate {abbreviated as LHTCA; [(C(3)N(2)H(4))CH(2)CH(NH(3))(CO(2))](+)CCl(3)COO(-)} were grown by slow evaporation of an aqueous solution at room temperature. The compound crystallizes in a non-centrosymmetric space group P2(1) of monoclinic system with cell parameters a=5.4505(18) A, b=25.769(8) A, c=9.210(2) A and beta=99.98(2) degrees. The vibrational structure of the compound confirms the presence of various functional groups in the molecule. The UV-vis-NIR spectrum shows a good transparency in the whole of the region from ultraviolet to near IR. The Kurtz powder SHG measurement confirms the frequency doubling of the crystal. Thermal behaviour of the crystals has been investigated by DSC analysis. These preliminary results suggest that LHTCA crystal can act as a potential and promising candidate for frequency doubling applications even from the near UV region to the near IR.     

Mechanism of linear and nonlinear optical properties of the urea crystal family

First-principles calculations of the second-order optical response functions and the dielectric functions of urea [CO(NH(2))(2)] and some of its derivatives such as monomethylurea (H(2)NCONHCH(3), MMU), and N,N'-dimethylurea (H(3)CHNCONHCH(3), DMU) crystals are performed. On the basis of the density functional theory (DFT) in the local-density approximation (LDA), the highly accurate full-potential projected augmented wave (FP-PAW) method was used to obtain the electronic structure. Over a wide frequency range (0.0-10.0 eV), the dielectric constants and second-harmonic generation (SHG) susceptibilities of the urea crystal family have been obtained, and the results are in good agreement with the experimental values. The origin of the linear and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of the urea crystal family has been analyzed by coupling the calculated electronic structure and optical spectrum. The prominent spectra of χ((2)) are successfully correlated with the dielectric function ε(ω) in terms of single-photon and double-photon resonances. The virtual electron (VE) and virtual hole (VH) processes have also been performed for the urea crystal family. From the research into the electron deformation density, crystal configuration, substitutional group, and so forth, it is found that the origin of the SHG of the urea crystal family is the charge transfer due to the strong "(?)push-pull" effect along the hydrogen bond, which favors a head-to-tail arrangement of the molecules and enhances the SHG response. The electron-donating substitutional group supplies more electrons to the electron-accepting group, and helps to form large dipoles in molecules. The influence on the NLO properties of the local symmetry of the substitutional group is also discussed in detail.     

不对称-NO等取代2,4-二苯基方酸的非线性光学性质的FF/AM1研究

对-NH2,-NO和NO2取代的2,4-二苯基方酸采用量子化学半经验AM1方法进行优化,在优化稳定构型的基础上计算了各体系的电子光谱,并通过FF/AM1方法计算了各体系的一阶分子超极化率(β ijk)和二阶分子超极化率(γ ijkl).计算结果表明,各体系均有非常大的βijk和γijkl,其最大值分别可达-2.406×10-26 C*m和1.845×10-24 C*m.     

Theoretical study on nonlinear optical properties of metalloporphyrin using elongation method

A quantum-chemical analysis of the central metal effect on the (hyper)polarizabilities of meso-meso-linked metalloporphyrin (MP) oligomers was carried out using elongation finite-field (ELG-FF) method. It is found that meso-meso-linked MPs exhibit evident evolution of the third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) response (γ) along with an increasing number of porphyrin units N. The order of γ values is as following: γ_Mg > γ_Zn > γ_Ni. In contrast to the polarizability, the γ values of meso-meso-linked MPs are sensitive to the metals, that is, the nature of the metal can influence the third-order NLO response of MPs. However, the band structures for three MPs are similar to each other, and the differences on the band gaps of three MPs are very small. The local density of states (LDOSs) shows that the central metal gives the significant contributions for unoccupied bands in meso-meso-linked MPs.     

螺旋双芴体系二阶非线性光学性质的ZINDO-SOS理论研究

用密度泛函B3LYP/631G*方法优化螺旋双芴的几何构型,在获得稳定构型的基础上,用半经验ZINDO方法计算体系的激发能和跃迁偶极矩,然后代入完全态求和公式得到体系的二阶极化率.结果表明,螺旋双芴具有较大的二阶极化率、较小的色散行为以及在可见光范围内透明等优点,是具有很好应用前景的非线性光学材料.     

Microcrystals of polydiacetylene derivatives and their linear and nonlinear optical properties

Organic microcrystals which are expected to have interesting and fascinating physical properties were fabricated by a reprecipitation method as aqueous dispersions. Many kinds of organic compounds have been microcrystallized by this convenient method. The size control has been extensively investigated for a polydiacetylene and succeeded in the range from several tens of nanometers to several micrometers by adjusting the temperature and concentration. Linear optical properties of these well-defined polydiacetylene microcrystals have been investigated and interesting size and temperature dependences of excitonic absorption are demonstrated. Nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of polydiacetylene microcrystals have also been evaluated by means of a Z-scan technique, and an extremely high nonlinear refractive index at the resonant wavelength was shown.     

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.     

Theoretical and experimental studies of electronic effects and second-order nonlinear optical properties of some benzenecarbothioates and benzenecarbodithioates

The relative nonlinear efficiency of some conjugated ester, thioester and dithioester molecules was investigated by quantum chemical semi-empirical methods. The results of calculations on ground and excited states properties and on finite-field hyperpolarizabilities allowed to select the best compounds for quadratic nonlinear optics. Some of these molecules were synthesized and the theoretical results were confronted with the experimental NLO response obtained by EFISH measurements. It was concluded from this analysis that the dithioester substituent represents an interesting electron-accepting group for applications in nonlinear optics and can be used instead of the nitro group. Correspondence to: A. Botrel     

二联吡啶及其二氮取代衍生物电子性质和非线性光学性质的理论研究

采用量子化学PM3方法优化得到二联吡啶及四种二氮取代衍生物的稳定结构,利用ZINDO-SOS∥PM3方法对它们的二阶和三阶非线性光学性质进行计算.结果表明,该类化合物具有良好的非线性光学性质,其中1,6,1′,6′-四氮取代联苯的β值最大,为73 2082C·m,而2,4,2′,4′-四氮取代联苯的三阶非线性光学性质最显著.