Nonlinear optical side-chain polymer with high thermal stability and its pyroelectric thermal analysis

Stable polymers with nonlinear optical side groups were synthesized from maleic anhydride copolymers and the azo dye Disperse Red 1 via esterification. After electrode poling under 135 V/μm at 185 °C, thermal stabilities were measured by pyroelectric and electro-optic thermal analysis and compared to a guest/host polymer of polymethylmethacrylate and the same dye. The pyroelectrically detected dipole orientation and the electro-optic activity of the side-chain polymers decreased only above 150 °C, and electro-optic r33 coefficients of up to 6 pm/V were achieved at 780 nm even without optimizing the dye content.