Study on the structure-performance relationship of nonlinear optical chromophores with different donors, bridges, and acceptors

Three series of high-performance nonlinear optical chromophores, B-TCF , B-3F , B-5F , N-TCF , N-TCF , S-TCF , and S-3F-S-5F , were synthesized using triphenylamine and N , N -bis-(4-methoxyphenyl)arylamine as donors, tetraene and thiophene as bridges, and tricyanofuran ( TCF ), perfluorophenyl-tricyanofuran ( 5F-TCF ) and phenyl-trifluoromethyl-tricyanofuran ( 3F-TCF ) as acceptors. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of these three series of chromophores to elucidate the structure-performance relationship from various perspectives. By employing DFT calculations and electro-optical coefficient tests, we observed significant influences of different electron donors, π-conjugated bridges, and acceptors on the performance of the chromophores. Polymeric thin films doped with chromophores N-3F and N-5F of 25 wt% with the N , N -bis-(4-methoxyphenyl)aryl-amino donor have been poled to afford large r 33 values of 198 and 171 pm V −1 at 1.31 μm, respectively, which surpassed those obtained with other chromophores. Three series of high performance nonlinear optical chromophores based on triphenylamine or N,N -bis-(4-methoxyphenyl)arylamine as donors and three kinds of acceptors were synthesized and investigated.