Electrochemically induced switching of the second-order nonlinear optical response

Abstract

New routes have been developed in tuning the nonlinear optical properties of (metallo)organic materials by established synthetic pathways. Several methods can be used to alter second-order nonlinear optical properties of materials such as pH-alteration, chemical oxidation or reduction reactions, light triggering,... However, in-situ electrochemical switching of the nonlinear optical properties of these materials opens a new and challenging research path for exploring the linear and nonlinear properties of these materials. We are reporting on combined electrochemical and (non)linear optical experiments. The electrochemical experiments have been conducted in solution and in-situ monitored by hyper-Rayleigh scattering. Also thin films are shown to be electrochemically altered and in-situ probed by second-harmonic generation.