Advances in Organic Materials for Optical Modulation

• Published in: Journal of lightwave technology Vol. 26; no. 15; pp. 2345 - 2354
• Main Authors: Sullivan, P.A., Olbricht, B.C., Dalton, L.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.08.2008; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Bonding; Chromophores; Composite materials; Correlation; Covalent bonds; Dendrimers; Dielectric materials; Electro-optic materials and devices; Electro-optics; Femtosecond; intermolecular interactions and lattice symmetry; Mathematical analysis; Modulation; optical and electrical poling; Optical materials; Optical modulation; Organic materials; Polymers; Quantum mechanics; Shape; Ultrafast optics
• ISSN: 0733-8724; 1558-2213
• DOI: 10.1109/JLT.2008.927147

Theory-inspired design of organic electro-optic materials is explored for three classes of materials: (1) chromophore/polymer composites; (2) chromophores covalently incorporated into polymers, dendrimers, and dendronized polymers; and (3) chromophores doped into chromophore-containing host materials. Correlated quantum/statistical mechanical calculations are used to quantitatively simulate electro-optic activity for a variety of materials falling into these three classes, elucidating the dependence of electro-optic activity on chromophore dipole moment, chromophore shape, covalent bond potentials, and dielectric permittivity. The practical consequence has been the production of materials exhibiting femtosecond response electro-optic activity approaching 600 pm/V at telecommunication wavelengths. Theory also provides insight into minimizing optical loss and maximizing stability.