The Effect of Matrix Attachment on the Third Order Nonlinear Optical Properties of Dyes

In order to discern the source of the third order nonlinear optical (NLO) phenomenon both morphological and electronic considerations are required. A series of styrene copolymers with varying amounts of p-aminostyrene or p-chloromethylstyrene were prepared as anchoring sites for chemically reactive electrophilic and nucleophilic dyes. For comparison, the same dyes were incorporated into composites of polycarbonate. Preliminary degenerate four wave mixing results for all materials indicate that the copolymeric support allowed incorporation of greater amounts of electroactive units, versus composites, and hence allowed high third order nonlinear responses (X(3)/α of approximately 10−13 esu cm). Third order NLO responses were absent in some composite systems due to limited solubility and/or phase separation difficulties.