Electro-optics poled sol–gel materials doped with heterocycle push–pull chromophores

Hybrid organic–inorganic materials doped with zwitterionic push–pull chromophores with high hyperpolarizability have been synthesized via sol–gel, based on glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) and glycidoxypropylmethyldimethoxysilane (GDMMS). Homogeneous films doped with chromophores, have been obtained using N-hydroxyethylcarbazole as a physical spacer avoiding dye aggregation. The waveguiding properties of the spin-coated doped films electrically poled in N2 atmosphere showing second harmonic generation measurements, have been preliminarily measured by m-line spectroscopy before and after poling; the feasibility of channel waveguiding structures has been demonstrated.