N-ethylcarbazole as a structure-directing agent in poly [(ethynediyl)(arylene)(ethynediyl)silylene]-poly(phenylsilsesquioxane) hybrid nanomaterials exhibiting photorefraction at telecommunication wavelengths

Self-organisation through it-stacking occurs in poly[(ethynediyl)(arylene)(ethynediyl)silylene]-N-ethylcarbazole-poly(phenylsilsesquioxane) compositions giving rise to nanostructured hybrid layered materials exhibiting photorefraction at telecommunication wavelengths. To our knowledge, this is the first such material to be reported the poly[(ethynediyl)(arylene)(ethynediyl)silylene] acting as an optical chromophore, charge generator and conductor. The absorption band tails into the near-IR hence providing charge generation at 1500 nm excitation. The photorefractive response was investigated by using a two-beam coupling technique. The gain of the probe beam intensity, delivered from the pumping beam, reached 40 cm(-1) with an electric field strength of 650 kV cm(-1) thus confirming the photorefractive nature of the grating. The gain exceeded the absorption (30 cm(-1)) hence showing the high potential of this material for practical applications.