This report describes our effort in the past three years on synthesis and characterization of novel photorefractive polymer system. Two major systems were developed, one of which combined the ionic transition metal complexes and a conjugated polymer backbone bearing NLO chromophores to manifest large photorefractive effect. Another is a molecular material containing oligothiophene and a nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophore. A large net optical gain (>200/cm) at a zero electric field was observed in the metal containing system. In the molecular system, a net optical gain of 83/cm and a diffraction efficiency of nearly 40% were obtained in a film made from this molecule under an applied field of 706 kv/cm. A fast response time of for the grating formation, 42 ms under 616 kv/cm, was observed.

Photorefractive polymer composites are an unusually sensitive class of photopolymers. Physics of Photorefraction in Polymers describes our current understanding of the physical processes that produce a photorefractive effect in key composite materials. Topics as diverse as charge generation, dispersive charge transport, charge compensation and trap

The principal focus of the project is to research and develop new polymeric materials based on molecular level design and solid state chemistry. The goals have been to develop electroactive polymers with novel electronic, optical and nonlinear optical properties.