Methodology for the synthesis of new multifunctional polymers for photorefractive applications

Well-defined multifunctional polymers, bearing charge transporting (CT) and nonlinear optical (NLO) functionality covalently attached to each repeat unit, were synthesized and characterized. A series of polysiloxanes were prepared that possessed either diarylamine, carbazole, or triarylamine CT moieties. High T_g polyurethanes, comprised of alternating CT and NLO units, were synthesized from NLO functionalized diols and N,N-bis(4-isocyanatophenyl)aniline. Polyimides, exhibiting high thermal stabilities, were obtained from a fluorinated dianhydride and a multifunctional (CT and NLO) diamine. Polymers were prepared containing two NLO chromophores per repeat unit, thereby doubling the NLO chromophore density over conventional NLO materials.