Mainchain chromophoric nonlinear optical polymers

RECENT SYNTHETIC DEVELOPMENTS IN MAINCHAIN CHROMOPHORIC NONLINEAR OPTICAL POLYMERS... 

Three new mainchain chromophoric polymers were synthesized and characterized. The physical properites of these polymers were compared to those of poly((4-N-ethylene-N-ethylamino)-a-cyanocinnamate). Films of the polymers can be made by either solution or melt casting of films. It was possible to obtain an oriented fibw of a polymer, namely poly(4 -[N-ethylene-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)amino] stilbene-4-formate, most likely because it has a melt transition temperature at around 210°C. Nonlinear optical studies of these polymers are in progress. 

In the following sections we describe the preparation of polymers which incorporated DEC chromophores either as components of a polymer backbone which is stabilized by interchain crosslinking or as a pendant to mainchain poljmers where the DEC chromophore is acting as the interchain crosslinking agent. The objective of this research, which has been realized, is the retention of significant optical nonlinearity at elevated temperatures (e.g., 125 °C) for extended periods of time. This is accomplished with the realization of an acceptable magnitude of optical nonlinearity (x(2) = 100-300 pnVV). 

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