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

该研究项目的目标是利用非线性光学材料为光通信和/或计算系统创造电光器件。特别是，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光学复合材料。与最好的无机物相比，有机化合物的非线性效应要大得多。然而，在开发含有有机分子的材料方面存在重大的制造问题。这些问题的一个可能的解决方案在于制造玻璃的溶胶-凝胶法。在本项目中，将使用溶胶-凝胶溶液作为光学有机分子的主体材料。将非线性光学有机物混合到溶胶-凝胶溶液中，形成以SiO_2为主体的新型有机-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子，将其锁定在适当的位置。有机分子复合材料的取向是通过极化技术来完成的，以观察到必要的二阶效应。通过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.