Design and synthesis of functionalizable ProDOT based chromophores for use in electro-optics

Previous research in polymeric electro-optics has shown dramatic increases in the hyperpolarizablity of NLO chromophores. However, this large microscopic activity has not been translated to the macroscopic domain. The polymeric electro-optic (EO) materials continue to lack the high noncentrosymmetric order of the poled chromophores within the matrix necessary for high EO response (r33). This deficiency of order represents one major obstacle that must be overcome before EO device commercialization can be achieved. This lack of order is in part due to the large dipole moments of high beta chromophores, which causes the chromophores to align in a centrosymmetric fashion through intermolecular electrostatic interactions. However, through functionalization of the chromophore, large improvements have been made to the macroscopic order resulting in an increase in the EO activity. This has been done through site isolation as well as covalent incorporation into larger systems. This dissertation will focus on functionalization of the chromophore on both the donor and the bridge of ProDOT based chromophores. This will allow for covalent incorporation of the chromophores into both polymeric and dendritic systems in hopes of improving the ordering and thus the EO activity.