Poling and characterization of a novel organic/polymer electro-optic material

Abstract

ABSTRACT Electro-optic organic/polymer material is important for the fa brication of polymer integrated optic-electronic devices and organic sensors. Recently, a novel organic high µ E value chromophore FFC have been synthesized by molecular design. The absorption spectrum in 400-4000 cm -1 is measured for the material, and the measurement result shows that the absorption loss is negligibly small. An organic/polymer high electro-optic activity material FFC/PSU is obtained by dissolving guest FFC (wt. 20%) and a host polysulfone (PSU ) in a solvent. The resolvability of cyclohexanone for the material is satisfactory by comparison w ith other solvents experimentally, and the preparation of FFC/PSU thin film is ease relatively. The materiel is poled by electric field-assi sted contact poling, and the near optimum poling condition is determined by adjusting poling parameters as pre-curing duration, poling temperature and poling voltage etc. The electro-optic coefficient of the material is measured as high as 130pm/V by using the widely accepted simple reflection technique. The investigation indicates that the FFC/PSU has excellent characteristics, such as high electro-optic coefficient, low absorption loss, good thermal stability and capability for withstanding the subsequent process techniques, suitable for the fabrication of high-performan ce integrated optic-electronic devices and sensors. Keywords: electro-optic organic/polymer, chromophore, simple reflection technique, poling, characterization