Photobleaching in side chain NLO-polymers

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Abstract
Photobleaching experiments on thin films of azo chromophore functionalized methacrylates were carried out to investigate bleaching kinetics and its underlying mechanisms. The polymer film's spatial index variation was measured and compared with a theoretical model of bleaching dynamics. From IR-spectroscopy and from GPC measurements it was found, that bleaching causes a destruction of the chromophore and a broadening of the polymer molecular weight distribution. The generated low molecular weight fractions from both polymer and chromophore photodecay evaporate during annealing above Tg, resulting in a reduction of the film's thickness. Surface roughness increases during photobleaching, causing an increase in waveguide loss. Film surface can be smoothed completely by annealing, thus lowering the optical loss induced by bleaching.

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