Fluorinated NLO polymers with improved optical transparency in the near infrared

The absorption from vibrational overtones in the near infrared and specifically at 1.55 μm, is a major contribution to the optical loss of NLO polymer waveguides. In an effort to reduce this value, the specific molecular vibrations responsible, which had previously been predicted by theoretical means, were identified by solvent spectra analysis. A scheme was proposed to reduce the intrinsic absorption through synthetic modification of the polymer by replacement of appropriate aliphatic CH bonds with CF bonds. Specific bonds were chosen for replacement based on a consideration of both contribution to intrinsic absorption as well as ease of synthetic modification. The target polymer was synthesized and its absorption measured by a solution technique. A reduction in optical loss at 1.55 µ from 0.75 to 0.35 dB cm−1 was achieved.