Third-order nonlinear optical properties of a novel series of D-π-A pyrene-aldehyde derivatives

Abstract

A series of mono-substituted pyrene derivatives having a pyrene mesogenic core and aldehyde group peripherals were designed and synthesized, which had typical D-[Formula: see text]-A structures. Photophysical properties of the compounds were characterized by UV/Vis spectroscopy and the third-order nonlinearities of the compounds were studied by “open aperture” and “closed aperture” [Formula: see text]-scan techniques. Both of the compounds showed typical nonlinear absorptions and refractions, and the third-order nonlinear susceptibilities have been found to be very high in all cases. The significant nonlinear optical response combined with the possibility to further modify it, by changing the electron acceptor and the electron-donor groups, suggests that these systems can prove to be important candidates for a variety of photonic/optoelectronic applications.