Chiral polyesters with azobenzene moieties in the main chain, synthesis and evaluation of nonlinear optical properties

Abstract

The synthesis, characterization and evaluation of nonlinear optical properties of a new series of chiral copolyesters containing push-pull electronic azobenzene mesogenic groups in the main chain are reported. The copolyesters showed liquid crystalline behaviour with high glass transition temperatures (∼200 °C), stable liquid crystalline mesophases (up to 360 °C) and high second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency. The second order nonlinear susceptibility values were measured as a function of the percentage of the chiral building unit and the temporal stability was found to be significant over a long duration of time.