Structural and light driven molecular engineering in photochromic polymers

Abstract

Light driven properties and remote control modulation in organic materials is still a challenging subject. Optical data storage has revolutionized modern technology. According to increasing interest of more advanced and better-controlled systems composed of the organic materials, photochromic polymers take significant part of still desired objective. In this contribution, we demonstrate two novel single-component macromolecular photo-responsive systems, characterized by optical Kerr effect (OKE) experiment. Productive and fully reversible all-optical switching can be easily obtained with utilization of thin polymeric film. An employed 30 cycles of remote controlled light driven (de)activation refractive index anisotropy (Δn) demonstrate efficient optical modulation. Importantly, two copolymers structures intentionally varying slightly in the chemical construction characterize significantly different nonlinear optical (NLO) response. The output Δn signal, enclosing kinetics, magnification, reversibility and stability can be easily controlled by applying molecular engineering concerning chemical architecture of the photo-responsive system. We present herein the photoisomerization studies and nonlinear optical spectroscopic analysis considering OKE phenomenon and obtained parameters, including photoinduced birefringence and 3rd order NLO susceptibility. Aforementioned approach allowed to construct organic-based device dedicated to the future utilization in opto-electronics and photonics as effective optical modulator or switch.