Adamantyl Copolymer for Nonlinear Optical Orientation Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Polymer compounds with nonlinear optical properties face issues of low glass-transition points and heat-induced orientation relaxation, as well as deterioration in optical properties due to crosslinking, limiting their suitability for optical devices.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an adamantyl group into a polymer compound, combined with a nonlinear optically active moiety, to reduce orientation relaxation and enhance thermal stability, allowing for the production of a nonlinear optically active copolymer that maintains electro-optic constants over time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a polymer compound with nonlinear optical properties is used, then optical performance is improved, but orientation relaxation occurs due to low glass-transition point

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical performanceVSAvoidorientation stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical structure parameters of the polymer by introducing adamantyl groups and specific nonlinear optical moieties, which fundamentally alters the glass-transition temperature and molecular packing characteristics, thereby improving orientation stability without sacrificing optical performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite polymer structure combining adamantyl-containing monomer units with nonlinear optical monomer units, achieving synergistic effects where the adamantyl groups provide structural stability and high glass-transition temperature while the nonlinear optical moieties maintain the desired optical properties

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If crosslinking is performed to reduce orientation relaxation, then orientation stability is improved, but optical properties deteriorate due to coloring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorientation stabilityVSAvoidoptical coloring

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the crosslinking function from the main polymer chain by introducing dedicated crosslinkable groups (acryloxy or methacryloxy) on side chains, allowing crosslinking to occur independently without affecting the chromophoric cores, thus preventing coloring while achieving orientation stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses silane groups as intermediary crosslinking agents that can form crosslinks through moisture-curing or thermal treatment without directly interacting with the nonlinear optical chromophores, thereby mediating the crosslinking process to avoid optical coloring while maintaining orientation stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If polymer compound is used for ease of processing, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but thermal stability is insufficient leading to orientation relaxation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing easeVSAvoidthermal stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the thermal parameters of the polymer by incorporating adamantyl groups with high thermal stability and rigid molecular structures, which elevate the glass-transition temperature to above 100°C, thereby improving thermal stability while maintaining the polymer's solution processability and ease of manufacture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The adamantyl-containing nonlinear optically active copolymer exhibits improved thermal stability and reduced orientation relaxation, enabling the creation of optical materials with sustained nonlinear optical performance and ease of shaping for optical devices.

Implementation Method 1

a nonlinear optical material refers to a material that exhibits polarization response proportional to the square, cube, or higher-order term of the magnitude of an optical electric field, and nonlinear optical materials that show a linear electro-optic effect (Pockels effect) which is a second order nonlinear optical effect

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNonlinear optical effect: Pockels Effect

Implementation Method 2

a monomer into which a structure having nonlinear optical properties and an acetylene group have been added is allowed to undergo self-crosslinking with the aim of reducing orientation relaxation over time of the structure having nonlinear optical properties after electric field-induced orientation (poling) of the structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectric field-induced orientation: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentUS11061297B2Nonlinear optically active copolymer into which alicyclic group has been introduced

Publication Date: 2021.07.13 NISSAN CHEM CORP

AI summary

A nonlinear optically active copolymer having satisfactory orientation characteristics and able to allow for reduction in heat-induced orientation relaxation of a nonlinear optical material, and a nonlinear optical material obtained using the copolymer. The copolymer including at least a repeating unit A having adamantyl group and a repeating unit B having a nonlinear optically active moiety in one molecule, and an organic nonlinear optical material including the copolymer as a component.