Dipolar orientation stabilities of hybrid films for second-order nonlinear optical applications

Organic–inorganic hybrid films containing nonlinear optical (NLO) active chromophores were prepared through the polyaddition of methacrylate and hydrolytic polycondensation of sila-functional alkoxy groups of 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TSPM) which is capable of forming carbon–carbon and siloxane chains, respectively. The NLO-active chromophores are designed and synthesized to be covalently grafted to the carbon–carbon or the siloxane chains. The comparative study of the two different incorporation methods reveals that the poled hybrid film with NLO-active chromophores bonded to siloxane chains would possess a more stable dipolar orientation.