Optimizing fluorinated poly(arylene ether)s for optical waveguide applications

Novel fluorinated aromatic polyether ketones and sulfones bearing cross-linkable tetrafluorostyrene groups have been synthesized for photonic applications. These polymers exhibit high thermal stability and low optical loss at telecommunication wavelengths. Incorporation of fluorinated aliphatic compounds into these polymer cross-linked networks during thin film processing can decrease the film birefringence due to changes in the rigidity of the polymer structures. The resulting copolymer shows the same slab loss as the original polymer. Polymer ridge waveguide structures have been fabricated and characterized.