Novel photorefractive sol-gel materials

We have developed new photorefractive media based on hybrid organic-inorganic materials containing a charge transporting (CT) molecule either as side-chain or main-chain substituents on the silica backbone. Second order nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores were introduced either as side chain or as guest units. These materials were prepared by the sol-gel process in the form of thin films of a few μm-thick. NLO and photorefractive properties have been evaluated using electro-optic measurements, two beam coupling experiments and photoconductivity measurements.