Nonlinear optical properties of intriguing Ru σ-acetylide complexes and the use of a photocrosslinked polymer as audspringboard to obtain SHG active thin films

摘要

This work reports on the design, synthesis and photo-physical properties of two ruthenium σ-alkynyludcomplexes. It is shown that, despite similar optical absorption features recorded in solution, the introductionudof a benzaldehyde moiety leads to an improved non-linear optical (NLO) response as measured byudElectric Field Induced Second Harmonic (EFISH) generation and Third Harmonic Generation (THG) atud1.907 μm, both related to the second order hyperpolarizability. These structure–property relationships areudrationalized based on few state modelling. Complex 2 is subsequently processed to afford compositeudfilms that demonstrate a χ2 of 1.4 pm V−1, quite remarkable given the ease of film processing implementedudin this work.