Stable polymeric materials for nonlinear optics: a review based on azobenzene systems

作者：Yesodha SK; Pillai CKS; Tsutsumi N^*

来源：Progress in Polymer Science, 2004, 29(1): 45-74.

DOI：10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2003.07.002

• nonlinear optics
• azobenzene polymers
• stable polymeric materials
• temporal stability
• thermal stability

The review gives a brief survey of NLO polymeric materials based on azobenzene units and of high thermal and temporal stability. it starts with a brief introduction which comprises principles and the origin of nonlinear optics and the various kind of polymeric materials for nonlinear optics, including guest-host systems, side-chain polymers, main-chain polymers their advantages and disadvantages, etc., poling techniques and experimental methods used for nonlinear optical measurements of polymers, etc. This is followed by discussion of various stable azobenzene based polymeric materials, and strategies employed to produce polymeric materials which are promising for practical applications. A wide range of additional applications of azobenzene chromophore is summarized, including photorefractivity, all-optical poling, holographic surface relief gratings, photo-assisted poling, optical data storage based on photochromism, liquid crystals with azobenzenes and reversible optical waveguides. Finally we conclude with a brief discussion on the applications of NLO materials and the hurdles faced by polymers to emerge as NLO materials for applications, and a summary and outlook overview.

• 出版日期2004-1