Self-crosslinkable side-chain copolymer for nonlinear optical application

Abstract

2-Tetrahydropyranyl methacrylate with a self-crosslinkable moiety was copolymerized with methyl methacrylate and 4-[(2-methacryloxyethyl)methylamino]-4'-nitrostilbene or 4-[(2-methacryloxyethyl)ethylamino]-4'-nitroazobenzene to provide second-order nonlinear optical property. Glass transition temperatures (T-g) of the copolymers are around 140 degrees C. The copolymers were soluble in common organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), cyclohexanone, and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). Poling was carried out at 140 degrees C for 20 min and identified with UV-Vis spectroscopy. Electro-optic coefficient (r(33)) of copolymer was 62 pm/V for polymer 2 at 633 nm, and relaxation did not remarkably occur due to the formation of a crosslinked network at 200 degrees C for 15 min.