The influence of different donor/acceptor matches on chromophore's nonlinear optical activity

• Four chromophore have been synthesized and systematically investigated.
• There is a best match for donor and acceptor to improve nonlinear optical activity.
• Chromophore d3 displayed excellent solubility and compatibility with matrix.
• The poled film afforded a large r33 value of 37 pm/V after poling.

sIn this work, a series of novel second order nonlinear optical chromophores modified by heteroatom-groups in electron-donor has been synthesized and systematically investigated. The resulting nonlinear optical chromophores exhibited both good thermal stability and good solubility in common organic solvents. UV–Vis spectra and density functional theory calculations were carried out to investigate the influence of heteroatom-groups on the electro-optic activities. The results revealed that increasing the electron-donor strength will not always improve the nonlinear optical activity of chromophore. There is a best match for electron-donor and acceptor. As to electro-optic activities, the doped polymer film-d3 displayed the highest electro-optic coefficient value of 37 pm/v at the doping concentration of 25 wt%. These results indicated that the nonlinear optical activities could be enhanced by finding the best match for electron-donor and acceptor in chromophore design.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide