| This thesis involves the design, preparation, and characterizing the properties of second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) polymeric materials. Chapter 1 provides some insights in the background and concepts of nonlinear optics and summarizes the progress in the development of second-order NLO polymers.; Chapter 2 deals with polyurethane thermosetting reaction with trilinkable DR-19 type chromophore. The trilinkable chromophore was synthesized from the functionalized amino azobenzene dyes with nitro moieties as an acceptor group. The thermosetting system is promising for device uses. The system exhibits excellent properties such as excellent processibility, ease of fabrication, optically clear film, high r{dollar}sb{lcub}33{rcub}{dollar} of 14-15 pm/V at 1.06 mm. This system exhibited higher thermal stability of 120{dollar}spcirc{dollar}C and low loss of 1.0dB/cm.; Chapter 3 presents the synthesis of polyurethane thermosetting reaction with high {dollar}mubeta{dollar} ISX chromophore. The chromophore was dibutylated to increase solubility and to prevent the aggregation of the chromophores in the polymer film. ISX polyurethane thermosett exhibited r{dollar}sb{lcub}33{rcub}{dollar} of 15-16 pm/V and thermal stability of 110-130{dollar}spcirc{dollar}C.; Chapter 4 describes the characterizations of second order NLO chromophores and summarizes the progress the development of second-order NLO chromophores. This chapter also involves design and synthesis of high {dollar}mubeta{dollar} chromophores as well as characterizations on the second order nonlinearities of the chromophores. |
