Chromophore functionalised maleimide copolymers with high poling stabilities of the nonlinear optical effect at elevated temperature

Nonlinear optical polymers with high glass transition temperatures were pre pared by covalent functionalisation of polymaleimide copolymers with hydrox yalkyl chromophores via the Mitsunobu reaction. The polymaleimides were obt ained by radical polymerisation of maleimide with 4-phenylstyrene (PM1), in dene (PM2) or 1-adamantylmethacrylate (PM3). Glass transition temperatures in the range of 222-288 degreesC were obtained. Thin spincoated films of th e polymers were corona-poled and analysed by second-harmonic generation; se cond-order susceptibility values (d(33)) up to 16 pm/V were obtained. Poled order stability measurements over periods of more than 200 h resulted in 7 2-90% of remaining NLO-response at 125 degreesC. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.