RUI: Photodegradation and Poling Alignment Stability of Branched azo Chromophores in Electro-Optic Polymer Blends

这个RUI项目致力于合成一系列高电光偶氮基发色团，这些发色团具有潜在的抗光降解能力，并且可溶于热稳定的无定形聚碳酸酯宿主聚合物。生色团排列的热稳定性将通过使用椭偏反射技术的电光活动的温度依赖研究来测量。光降解将通过测量薄膜混合物在应用波长连续激光辐射下的光传输来评估。将制造直通道波导，并评估波导形式的光降解，并将其与薄膜研究获得的寿命估计进行比较。该研究将提供新的数据和对极具前景和未开发的发色团设计方案的基本理解，并将形成适用于未来设计的实验和智力基础设施。该计划的一个重要特点是通过培养学生在一个基础和技术上重要的领域的研究和教育的整合。材料合成和光学表征将在德鲁大学设备齐全的化学和光子学实验室进行。这些实验室是由研究公司、NSF-ILI和NSF-RUI资助开发的，是将光子聚合物研究与本科教学实验室环境相结合的持续努力的一部分。这些实验是桌面规模的，让学生接触到研究生院和雇主所重视的实验室技术。学生们还将通过选择参观威斯康星大学材料研究科学与工程中心和里海大学光学技术中心，体验纳米技术研究的前景和兴奋。学生们将与PI一起制作和表征微结构光波导，并将从与首席研究员的研究大学合作者Padma Gopalan博士，Howard Katz博士和Ray Pearson博士的互动中受益。该RUI奖将在三年内支持至少六名暑期研究学生，并将提供设备以支持整个学年的持续研究。研究结果将与学生共同发表在同行评议的研究文献中，并在专业会议上发表。＊＊＊

This RUI project addresses the synthesis of a series of highly electro-optic azo-based chromophores that are potentially robust against photodegradation and are soluble in a thermally stable amorphous polycarbonate host polymer. Thermal stability of chromophore alignment will be measured by temperature-dependent studies of electro-optic activity using an ellipsometric reflection technique. Photodegradation will be evaluated by measuring the optical transmission of thin-film blends subject to continuous laser radiation at applications wavelengths. Straight channel waveguides will be fabricated and photodegradation in waveguide form will be evaluated and compared with lifetime estimates obtained from thin-film studies. The proposed research will provide new data and fundamental understanding of a highly promising and unexplored chromophore design scheme, and will form an experimental and intellectual infrastructure applicable to future designs. An important feature of the program is the integration of research and education through the training of students in a fundamentally and technologically significant area. Materials synthesis and optical characterization will occur at Drew University in well-equipped chemistry and photonics laboratories. These laboratories have been developed through Research Corporation, NSF-ILI, and NSF-RUI grants and are part of an ongoing effort to integrate photonic polymer research with the undergraduate instructional laboratory environment. The experiments are tabletop in scale and expose students to laboratory techniques valued by graduate schools and employers. Students will also experience the promise and excitement of nanotechnology research through selected visits to the University of Wisconsin Materials Research Science and Engineering Center and the Lehigh University Center for Optical Technologies. Students will work alongside the PI to fabricate and characterize microstructured optical waveguides, and will benefit from interacting with the Principal Investigator's research university collaborators, Dr. Padma Gopalan, Dr. Howard Katz, and Dr. Ray Pearson. This RUI award will support at least six summer research students over three years, and will provide equipment to support continued research through the academic year. Results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed research literature with student co-authors and presented at professional meetings. ***