Shape engineering to promote head-tail interactions of electro-optic chromophores

Cheng Zhang; Lianjie Zhang; Stephanie J. Benight; Benjamin C. Olbricht; Lewis E. Johnson; Bruce H. Robinson; Robert A. Norwood; Larry R. Dalton

doi:10.1117/12.2025676

10 September 2013 Shape engineering to promote head-tail interactions of electro-optic chromophores

Cheng Zhang, Lianjie Zhang, Stephanie J. Benight, Benjamin C. Olbricht, Lewis E. Johnson, Bruce H. Robinson, Robert A. Norwood, Larry R. Dalton

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8827, Optical Processes in Organic Materials and Nanostructures II; 882705 (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2025676
Event: SPIE Organic Photonics + Electronics, 2013, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Alignment of dipolar chromophores lies at the heart of organic electro-optic materials research. Among all the factors (e.g., external electric field, temperature, conductivity, etc.) affecting alignment efficiency or order parameter, interchromophore electrostatic interaction has been the focus of attention in the last decade. The strength of dipole interaction is highly dependent not only on dipole moment but also on chromophore shape and chromophore number density. Antiparallel interaction is dominant in the solid state of conventional EO chromophores (long and flat) and prevents electro-optic coefficient (r33) from scaling with chromophore concentration. Despite the great amount of research along various approaches to enhancing alignment, order parameters of organic EO materials are still low (0.13- 0.2 v.s. 1 for a perfect alignment). Antiparallel interaction can be selectively attenuated by attaching bulky groups to the middle part of chromophore. However, it is synthetically challenging to provide sufficient steric protection without causing severe reduction of chromophore concentration. In this paper, we will present the first realization of atomeconomic steric protection of chromophore against H-aggregation in all directions and show evidences for the dominance of head-tail interaction over antiparallel interaction of a highly dipolar chromophore. With the novel shape, the EO coefficients of guest-host films of the chromophore do not show attenuation with increasing concentration up to 100 wt%. The dominance of head-tail interaction also enabled fabrication of optical quality thick films from the neat chromophore and allows poling induced alignment to retain at temperatures above the poling temperature – a phenomenon never observed for other chromophores.

Citation Download Citation

Cheng Zhang, Lianjie Zhang, Stephanie J. Benight, Benjamin C. Olbricht, Lewis E. Johnson, Bruce H. Robinson, Robert A. Norwood, and Larry R. Dalton "Shape engineering to promote head-tail interactions of electro-optic chromophores", Proc. SPIE 8827, Optical Processes in Organic Materials and Nanostructures II, 882705 (10 September 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2025676

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available