Exceptional Second-Order Nonlinear Optical Susceptibilities in Organic Compounds

Abstract

Molecular second-order nonlinear optical susceptibilities (β) of donor-acceptor substituted organic compounds compunds were measured in dimethyl sulfoxide solution using electric fields induced second harmonic gneration. The experimental data and theoretical interpretations of the trends led to compounds with values of β useful for imparting high bluk susceptibilities on polymeric materials. Exceptionally high values of β were reached relative to analogues of similar size through the use of tricyanovinyl and dithiolylidenmethyl substituents.