Organic nonlinear optical chromophores in an inorganic environment. Toward an interplay between magnetism, conductivity, and nonlinear optics

This review is devoted to hybrid materials made of organic quadratic nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores embodied in various inorganic environments. In the first section are reported systems in which the inorganic moiety is a transparent mineral network (e.g., silica, zirconium phosphate, etc.) exhibiting good transparency, crystal stability, and mechanical hardness, but none of the electronic properties usually associated with material science. The second section focuses on NLO chromophores inserted into inorganic magnetic phases (more precisely, Mn2P2S6 and [(MnCrIII)-Cr-II(ox)(3)](-) layered structures). The issue related to possible synergies between optical and magnetic behavior (Faraday effect) is adressed. The last section is devoted to organic/inorganic hybrid assemblies combining NLO and conducting behavior. Besides the obvious transparency/conductivity trade-off, the possibility for interplay occurring through intermolecular charge transfer is discussed.