NOVEL AROMATIC POLYIMIDES FOR NONLINEAR OPTICS

A general approach to the synthesis of second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) polyimides exhibiting high thermal stability has been developed. Several selected NLO chromophores have been incorporated into the pol yimide backbone. Detailed physical studies showed that these polymers are very promising for practical applications. Three of these polyimid es are soluble in common organic solvents, offering the ease of proces sing. High glass temperatures, around 230 degrees C, assure a long-ter m NLO stability at elevated temperatures, such as 150 degrees C. Low o ptical loss was observed for those soluble polymers. The synthetic app roach is also versatile and will allow the syntheses of many other fun ctional polymers.