Supramolecular photonics: Molecular self-assembly and controlled lattice hardening for electro-optic coefficients beyond 450 pm/v

Major breakthrough has been achieved recently in supramol. org. electro-optic (EO) materials based on the use of binary chromophores. By combining the use of nanoscale architectural control and supramol. self-assembly approaches, we have created a new paradigm for materials with exceptional EO properties. A facile and reliable Diels-Alder "click" reaction can also be applied to harden the lattice of EO polymers and dendrimers to improve their thermal stability and mech. properties. This type of "click" chem. has paved the way to systematically study the relationship among EO activity, chromophore shape, and no. d. of the chromophores. With these novel approaches, we have succeeded in improving the EO activity of org. NLO materials by a factor of 3-5 with ultrahigh r33 values (>450 pm/V at the telecommunication wavelengths, more than 15 times that of LiNbO3) and excellent thermal stability and optical transparency. The success of these material developments has inspired the exploration of new device concepts to take full advantage of these org. EO materials. In this talk, we will discuss design, synthesis, and characterization of these materials and their applications in very low drive voltage EO modulators and Si-based photonic devices.