Rational design, synthesis, and characterization of chromophoric supermolecular self-assembled multilayer thin films having very large optical nonlinearities

De Quan Li*, Tobin J. Marks, Tongguang Zhang, George K. Wong

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

A method for preparing organized, highly aligned, multifunctional donor-acceptor covalently bonded self-assemblies on silica surfaces is described. Using the organosilane coupling reagent, I3Si(CH2)2C6H4CH2I (Cp), the high-β chromophore, 4-[N,N-bis(3-hydroxypropyl)amino]styryl-4′-pyridine (Ch) can be easily linked to surfaces via quaternization. Additional chromophore layer can be built up in this manner using chlorosilane/polyvinylalcohol as an intervening structural layer. These multilayer structures have been characterized by FTIR-ATR, UV-vis spectroscopy, advancing contact angle, and second harmonic generation measurements. The studies of NLO properties reveal good structural uniformity and second order susceptibilities χzzz(2) as high as 6 × 10-7 esu for a single CpCh monolayer and 2 × 10-7 esu for multilayer superlattices (λ = 1064 nm).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3157-3162
Number of pages6
JournalSynthetic Metals
Volume43
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 7 1991

Funding

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research was supported by the NSF-MRL program through the Materials Research Center of Northwestern University (Grant DMR8821571) and by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (Contracts 86-0105 and 90-0071).

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Metals and Alloys
  • Materials Chemistry

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