FUNCTIONALIZED POLYIMIDES EXHIBITING LARGE AND STABLE 2ND-ORDER OPTICAL NONLINEARITY

A new family of functionalized second-order nonlinear optical polyimid es has been developed. The key step in synthesizing these polymers was the syntheses of diamino NLO chromophores, which was accomplished by utilizing the Mitsunobu reaction. The polyimides were obtained from th e corresponding poly(amic acids) which exhibited good solubility in ap rotic polar solvents, permitting device processing. High glass transit ion temperatures were obtained in these polyimides, rendering a high s tability in dipole orientation at elevated temperatures. The second ha rmonic generation signals exhibited no decay at room temperature or at 90-degrees-C. A long term stabilityf at 170-180-degrees-C was observe d.