Synthesis, third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of polystyrene containing 1,8-naphthalimide chromophores in the side chain
AbstractTwo novel methacrylate monomers, (4-((methacryloyloxy)-hexyloxy)- benzylidene-hydrazine)-N-(4-alkyloxy)-benzene-1,8-naphthalimide (NAOPH) and (4-((methacryloyloxy)-hexyloxy)-3,5-dimethoxy-benzylidene-hydrazine)-N-(4-alkyloxy)- benzene-1,8-naphthalimide (NA3OPH) were synthesized. The polystyrenes containing 1,8-naphthalimide chromophores were prepared by copolymerization of styrene with NAOPH or NA3OPH. The obtained copolymers were characterized by GPC, 1H-NMR and TLC. The third-order NLO properties of the monomers and copolymers were measured by Z-scan technique. Results show that both monomers and copolymers have reverse saturable absorption (RSA) and selfdefocusing effects. For monomers, NA3OPH has larger third-order NLO susceptibility χ(3) than NAOPH due to introduction of two more methoxy groups. For all copolymers, larger χ(3) is observed when content of 1,8-naphthalimide chromophores was higher.