Electro-optic materials: hyperbranched chromophores attached linear polyimide and dendritic polyesters

Abstract Hyperbranched chromophores were introduced to a polyimide for a high chromophore concentration. The optical non‐linearity of the polyimides increased in proportion to the rise in chromophore concentration. A dendritic structure was developed to increase the concentration and overall attached with optical chromophores on its surface reactive sites. The dendrimer showed optical film‐formable property and proved to be a good material with a similar optical non‐linearity to the side chain polyimides. An electro‐optic coefficient of a dendrimer (G‐DAIDC) was measured to afford 38.3 pm/V at 1550 nm wavelength. The optical stability of polarized polyimides and dendrimers films was examined at high temperatures. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.