Synthesis and characterization of azo-based acrylate polymers for use as nonlinear optical materials

In this work, high molecular weight azo polymers were synthesized by incorporating the azo monomer into a base polymer through their reactive functional groups. Copolymers of methyl methacrylate and methacrylic acid (with varying concentrations of carboxylic acid group) were synthesized. These were then reacted with epoxy‐terminated azo molecule by carboxylic acid–epoxy reaction. The functionalized systems show excellent film homogeneity and optical clarity. The series of copolymers were characterized using FTIR, NMR, UV–vis spectrometry, gel permeation chromatography, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. The polymer films coated on ITO glass slides were poled and their order parameters were calculated to check the stability of oriented dipoles. Temporal stability, checked up to 120 h under ambient conditions, was found to be excellent. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 425–431, 2007