Progress in fully functionalized photorefractive materials

Photorefractive (PR) materials are multifunctional materials which combine both photoconductivity and electro-optic response to show a new phenomenon: reversible modulation of the index of refraction by light. In the past years, our group has focused on the development of fully functionalized polymers, oligomers and small molecular materials. We have had success in identifying new materials and in gaining understanding in design principles of better materials. Several new PR material systems have been explored, including conjugated PR polymers containing transition metal complexes as photosensitizers, oligothiophene based PR systems and small molecular PR materials containing carbazole and methine dyes. Large net optical gain and minimized phase separation were achieved. The correlation between molecular structure and physical properties is the focal point of this paper.