Structure–function relationship exploration for enhanced thermal stability and electro-optic activity in monolithic organic NLO chromophores. Issue 15 (24th March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jin, Wenwei; Johnston, Peter V.; Elder, Delwin L.; Manner, Karl T.; Garrett, Kerry E.; Kaminsky, Werner; Xu, Ruimin; Robinson, Bruce H.; Dalton, Larry R.
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 4:Issue 15(2016)
• Page Start: 3119
• Page End: 3124
• Publication Date: 2016-03-24
• Subjects: Materials -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Optical materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Electronics -- Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c6tc00358c
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7526

Abstract

Abstract : Structure–function relationship study in a series of organic monolithic electro-optic materials has revealed the impact of donor and bridge molecular modification, leading to material with increased EO behavior and improved thermal stability. Abstract : We have developed a series of novel monolithic materials based on molecules previously explored as dopants in guest–host systems to study intrinsic structure–function relationships in organic electro-optic (EO) materials. In a library of EO molecules with varied bridge segments, molecular modification of the donor with bis( tert -butyldiphenylsilyl) groups led to improvement in formation of amorphous films and led to enhanced poling efficiency. Further modification to include a carbazole site-isolation group on the bridge effectively reduced intermolecular dipole–dipole interactions, led to a material with poling efficiency of approximately 3 (nm V −1 ) 2, and an increased glass transition temperature to 20–40 °C higher than similar reported monolithic materials. This level of thermal stability is comparable to common guest/host systems, which incorporated poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as the host. Our research showed that π-bridge length and type impacted first molecular hyperpolarizability β of a chromophore, which is accordingly reflected in the EO response. These findings further promote the utility of monolithic materials for their increased EO behavior and improved thermal stability, making this material system a competitor of guest–host systems in commercial applications.