Photoconducting electro-optic polymer films

Abstract

We describe electro-optic polymer films that also exhibit photoconductivity. An acrylic polymer containing (as a side chain) a stilbene chromophore with a high second-order nonlinear susceptibility was doped with a perylene sensitizer for photocharge generation and a triarylamine hole transporting molecule. A polymer film was fabricated that had an electro-optic coefficient of 2.5 pm/V. Absorption of light by the sensitizer, that occurs in a region in which the polymer is otherwise transparent, results in a photocurrent and charge trapping. The quantum efficiency of photocharge generation and photorefractive figures of merit were calculated.