Advanced high-temperature polymers for integrated optical waveguides

An amorphous, nonlinear optical polymer, which has a glass transition temperature of 208 degree(s)C, was prepared. It is soluble in common organic solvents, and can be processed by conventional photolithographic processes. Corona-poled thin films of this polymer exhibit second-order nonlinear optical properties. This polymer is comprised of mainchain cinnamamide chromophores in the syndioregic configuration. The rigid U-shaped links which bridge the chromophores in this polymer were designed to geometrically stabilize polar, folded conformations in the backbone.