Engineering Creativity Award: Nonlinear Optical CompositiesUsing Nonlinear Organic Molecules in Inorganic Matrices

本研究项目的目标是为使用非线性光学材料的光通信和/或计算系统创建电光器件。特别是，非线性光学复合材料将通过在无机基质中放置高度非线性的有机分子来制备和表征。非线性效应在有机物中的表现要比最好的无机物大得多。然而，在开发含有有机分子的材料时，存在着重大的制造问题。解决这些问题的一个可能的方法是用溶胶-凝胶法制造玻璃。在这个项目中，溶胶-凝胶溶液将被用作光学有机分子的主体材料。以SiO2为主体，在溶胶-凝胶溶液中混合非线性光学有机物，形成新型有机-无机复合材料。溶胶-凝胶应该在每个有机分子周围形成一个二氧化硅笼，将其锁定在适当的位置。为了观察到必要的二阶效应，有机分子复合材料的排列是通过极化技术来完成的。通过连续沉积不同折射率的溶胶-凝胶层，可以实现非线性光波导。研究的总体计划基本上是合成（制造），表征（材料）和器件实现。

The goal of this research project is to create electrooptical devices for optical communications and/or computing systems using nonlinear optical materials. In particular, nonlinear optical composites will be fabricated and characterized by placing highly nonlinear organic molecules in inorganic matrices. Nonlinear effects have been shown to be much larger in organics compared to the best inorganics. Significant fabrication problems exist, however, in developing materials containing organic molecules. A possible solution to these problems lies in the sol-gel process for making glass. In this project, sol-gel solutions will be used as the host material for optical organic molecules. The new organic- inorganic composite material will be formed by mixing nonlinear optical organics into the sol-gel solution so that SiO2 is the host. The sol-gel should form a SiO2 cage around each organic molecule locking it in place. Alignment of the organic molecule composites is accomplished by the poling techniques in order to observe the necessary second order effects. By depositing sucessive layers of sol-gel with different indices, nonlinear optical waveguides can be realized. The general plan of research is essentially synthesis (fabrication), characterization (of materials), and device realization.