Synthesis and characterization of photorefractive polymer containing multifunctional chromophore

The main chain photorefractive polymer (PUA-M) having multifunctional chromophore was synthesized by the step-growth polymerization from N-hydroxyethycarbazole-4'-[6-(hydroxysulfonyl)]-azobenzene (Azo-2OH) and 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate. The molecular weight of the resulting polymer was determined to be M-w=41,300 (M-w/M-n=1.19) by the gel permeation chromatography using polystyrene as a standard, and could be processed into optical quality films. The thermal properties of PUA-M were detected by DSC and TGA. It shows a glass transition temperature of 183 degreesC and an initial decomposition temperature of 223 degreesC. The absorption maximum in UV/vis spectrum of PUA-M film was detected at 416 mn. The second-order nonlinear coefficient (d(33)) of PUA-M was about 27 pm/V. The studies into the detailed photorefractive properties for this polymer is in progress.