A novel amphiphilic push-pull ferrocene derivative: Langmuir-Blodgett films and second-order optical nonlinearity

The Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films built from the mixture of an amphiphilic p ush-pull ferrocene derivative (P) and behenic acid were investigated. Langm uir films of P diluted by behenic acid exhibit a very good cohesion, and th e mixed films can easily be transferred onto solid substrates. Linens dichr oism UV-visible and IR spectroscopy measurements of the mixed LB multilayer s confirm that the molecules (P) are oriented to the substrate. The nonline ar optical experiments on the mixed monolayer deposited on the CaF2 slide s howed that P displayed efficient optical second harmonic generation (SHG) w ith a molecular hyperpolarizability (beta) as high as 6.0 x 10(-29) e.s.u. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.