Stereocontrolled synthesis of polar polymers for second order nonlinear optics using the ferroelectric liquid crystal self assembly

Conference · Fri Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:141631

Wand, M D; Thurmus, W N; Moray, K M; Arnett, K E ^[1]; Walba, D M ^[2]

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1. Displaytech, Inc., Boulder, CO (United States)
2. Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)

This paper has described the design and synthesis of low molecular weight ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs) for second order nonlinear optics. FLCs with useful magnitude of {chi}({sup 2}) and processibility not possible with poled polymers or crystals have been obtained. However, for some applications liquids are not appropriate. For these applications we have been exploring the use of FLC polymers-specifically FLCP glasses. In the authors` view FLCP glasses represent a novel type of solid, a truly noncrystalline solid with thermodynamically stable polar order. High molecular weight FLCPs, however, suffer from very high viscosity in the isotropic state, precluding some attractive processing approaches such as capillary filling. Building upon the pioneering work of the Wacker LC-silicones group, the authors herein report on the synthesis and some properties of members of a class of cyclic oligosiloxane FLCs possessing some advantages of both low molecular weight FLCs and polymers.

• OSTI ID: 141631
• Report Number(s): CONF-930304--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
40 CHEMISTRY
FERROELECTRIC MATERIALS
LIQUID CRYSTALS
NONLINEAR OPTICS
POLAR COMPOUNDS
POLYMERIZATION
SILOXANES
STEREOCHEMISTRY
SYNTHESIS