Introduction of N atom into the conjunction system of organic second order nonlinear optical chromophores: An effective method for improving the photochemistry stability

•Novel nonlinear optical chromophores with different number of N atoms were prepared and characterized.•The nonlinear optical character was studied both by theoretical calculation and second harmonic generation experiment.•Chromophores with N atoms in the conjugated system showed us better photochemistry stability.

Organic nonlinear optical chromophores with different number of N atoms were prepared and characterized. Their nonlinear optical character was studied both by theoretical calculation and second harmonic generation experiment. Chromophore ZJ1 showed us the largest d33 value of 87.5 pm/V. More importantly, the photochemistry stability of the chromophores was also studied in details. Chromophores with N atoms in the conjugated system showed us better photochemistry stability than the traditional chromophores.