Third-order nonlinear optical properties of a novel series of azobenzene liquid crystal derivatives

ABSTRACT

A novel series of D-π-A bi-alkyne liquid crystal derivatives were designed and synthesized, which had typical D-π-A structures. The third-order nonlinearities of the compounds were studied by “open aperture” and “closed aperture” Z-scan techniques. Both compounds showed typical nonlinear absorptions and refractions, and the third-order nonlinear susceptibilities have been found to be very high in all cases. The significant nonlinear optical response, combined with the possibility to further modify it, by changing the π-linking groups and the electron donors or acceptors, suggests that these systems can prove to be important candidates for a variety of photonic/optoelectronic applications.

Keywords:

• Azobenzene liquid crystal
• third-order nonlinear
• Z-scan

Funding

This work was supported by the Major Project of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology (Grant No. 2013DFB50340), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51173017, 51203011, 51103010, and 61370048), the Major Project of Beijing Science and Technology Program (Grant No. Z121100006512002), the Beijing Higher Education Young Elite Teacher Project, And the National Key Basic Research Program of China (2014CB931804).