Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 February 2011
A new class of high thermal stability fused-ring guest chromophores intended for incorporation into highly stable host polyimides has been successfully developed. Thermal stabilities far in excess of 300°C have been achieved for both the pure guest and the guest-host polyimide systems. The Microscopic second order nonlinear optical properties of the guest chromophores have been characterized both theoretically and experimentally. The achievement of the new high temperature EO chromorphores and polyimide formulations have directly resulted in the discovery of new EO device designs and architectures.