High temperature chromophore-embedded polyimides for use in second-order nonlinear optics

Polyimides, especially functionalized aromatic polyimides are among the high temperature polymer systems attractive for high-Tg poled second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. The incorporation of the three novel, chemically and thermally stable second-order NLO chromophore diamine monomers bis(4-aminophenyl)[4-(2-(4-nitrophenyl)vinyl)phenyl]amine, bis(4-aminophenyl)[4-(2-(6-nitrobenzothiazol-2-yl)vinyl)phenyl]amine, and 2-[4-((4-(bis(4-aminophenyl)amino)phenyl)diazenyl)phenyl]-2-phenyl -1,1-dicy anoethylene into the mainchain of six processable polyimides via a condensation reaction is described.