Recent development of highly efficient chromophores and polymers for electro-optic device applications

A new series of highly efficient, chemically and thermally stable (T-d as high as 360 degrees C) nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores have been developed by using a 2-phenyl-tetracyanovinylbutadienyl group as the electron acceptor for a series of dialkyl- or diphenyl-amino substituted thiophene stilbenes. Excellent tradeoffs among absorption, molecular nonlinearity and thermal stability were achieved. Electro-optic polymers based on the guest/host systems and covalent attachment of chromophores onto high temperature polyquinoline backbones demonstrate high E-O activities ( r(33) as high as 36 pmN at 1.3 mu m) and good optical, electrical and mechanical properties.