Dipolar orientation stabilities of hybrid films for second-order nonlinear optical applications

Organic-inorganic hybrid films containing nonlinear optical (NLO) active chromophores were prepared through the polyaddition of methacrylate and hydrolytic polycondensation of sila-functional alkoxy groups of 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TSPM) which is capable of forming carbon-carbon and siloxane chains, respectively. The NLO-active chromophores are designed and synthesized to be covalently grafted to the carbon-carbon or the siloxane chains. The comparative study of the two different incorporation methods reveals that the poled hybrid film with NLO-active chromophores bonded to siloxane chains would possess a more stable dipolar orientation.