Novel NLO-phores containing dihexyl amino benzo[b]thiophene exhibiting good transparency and enhanced electro-optical activity

Abstract

Two new chromophores (A and B) were synthesized, in which a benzo[b]thiophene moiety was first introduced as a donor group. To investigate the macroscopic EO activity of the new chromophores, guest–host doped polymer films were fabricated by doping chromophores A and B into amorphous polycarbonate (APC). The poled films containing A with a loading density of 20 wt% achieved a maximum EO coefficient (r₃₃) of 42 pm V⁻¹ at 1310 nm, while for the poled films containing B, the r₃₃ value is 75 pm V⁻¹ at 1310 nm. UV-vis spectral absorption of the new chromophores were studied in solutions and films, and chromophores A and B showed a maximum absorption in chloroform of 658 nm and 688 nm, respectively. Compared to the FTC (r₃₃ = 20–50 pm V⁻¹ at 1310 nm, λ_max = 685 nm in chloroform) analogues, they exhibited enhanced electro-optical activity together with a high optical gap. This new type of chromophore provided better optimization of the nonlinearity-transparency trade-off.