US 6,288,206 B1 · Chiral polymer compositions exhibiting nonlinear optical properties

Abstract

Chiral organic polymers doped with or appended by nonlinear optical dyes are disclosed. The use of chiral polymers produces a more stable noncentrosymmetric environment for the dye molecules resulting in unexpectedly long relaxation times as compared with previously used organic polymers. In addition, the NLO/chiral polymer materials exhibit high electro-optical coefficients (r33), high nonlinear optical coefficients (d33), improved long-term thermal stability, and at the same time retain the processing advantages associated with organic polymers. Thus, the present NLO/chiral polymer materials are extremely well-suited for use in second-order nonlinear optical and optoelectronics devices.

Claims45

Dependent claims

A chiral polymer material exhibiting nonlinear optical properties, said chiral polymer material comprising

(A) a chiral polymer comprising a chiral moiety in the backbone of said chiral polymer;
and
(B) a nonlinear optical component in admixture with said chiral polymer, wherein said nonlinear optical component includes a chiral residue chemically bridging an electron donating group with a second electron donating group, wherein said electron donating group is chemically connected to an electron accepting group by a continuous π electron chain, and wherein said second electron donating group is chemically connected to a second electron accepting group by a continuous π electron chain.

A chiral polymer material exhibiting nonlinear optical properties, said chiral polymer material comprising

(A) a chiral polymer comprising structural units containing a chiral moiety derived from a chiral bisphenol compound, wherein said chiral moiety is in the backbone of said chiral polymer;
and
(B) a nonlinear optical component chemically bonded to said backbone of said chiral polymer as a pendent sidegroup, wherein said nonlinear optical component comprises an electron donating group and an electron accepting group chemically connected by a continuous π electron chain.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Chiral polymer compositions exhibiting nonlinear optical properties

Life of this patent

Chiral polymer compositions exhibiting nonlinear optical properties

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims45