Abstract
Two kinds of second-order nonlinear optical copolymers were prepared by the copolymerization of the vinyl monomers containing NLO chromophore, methacrylic acid, and methyl methacrylate or butyl methacrylate. Glass transition temperatures (Tg of copolymers were around 130 ℃. The copolymers were soluble in common organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), cyclohexanone, and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). The crosslinked copolymer was obtained by thermal treatment using pentaerythritol tetrakis(2-mercaptoacetate) as a crosslinker and became insoluble in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). Poling was carried out at 120 ℃ for 20 min and identified with UV-Vis spectroscopy. Electro-optic coefficient (r33) measurement showed a value of 35 pm/V for polymer 2 at 633 nm. Temporal stability of copolymers was improved owing to the crosslinked network, which was successfully obtained at 170 ℃ for 30 min after poling.