Physical attachment of NLO chromophores to polymers for great improvement of long-term stability

Abstract

Dual D-Pi-A nunchaku-like structure chromophore was designed and synthesized to improve electro-optic (EO) materials׳ EO coefficients (r33) and long term stability by a simple doping system. The r33 values of poled APC/10% DIMER1 and APC/20% DIMER1 are 23pm/V and 45pm/V respectively. After annealed at 85°C for 500h, the poled film of APC/20% DIMER1 can retain more than 85% of its initial r33 value. All these characters showed us superior prospects of application in EO devices. Chromophore DIMER1 also showed us good thermal stability; its decomposition temperature (Td) was higher than 280°C, which is enough for its application in the EO devices. Also chromophore DIMER1 had good solubility in amorphous polycarbonate (APC); it could be dissolved in APC at high loading density (25%).