Highly ordered pseudo-discotic chromophore systems for electro-optic materials and devices

In order to achieve the near-ferroelectric order desired in organic electro-optic (EO) chromophore systems, a pseudo-discotic chromophore is under investigation. Calculations suggest head-to-tail inter-chromophore dipole-dipole interactions should drive chromophores with an appropriate aspect ratio into ferroelectric columns similar to those seen in discotic liquid crystals (DLCs). Therefore, the liquid crystalline properties of these chromophores are being examined by differential scanning calorimetery (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Furthermore, the effect of this discotic behavior on the order and EO properties of the system are being examined both dynamically by second harmonic generation (SHG) and statically by attenuated total reflection (ATR). Additionally, these chromophores are being incorporated into waveguide-based photonic devices. © 2005 Materials Research Society.