The preparation and optical limiting properties of POSS-based molecular hybrid functional materials

A series of organic/inorganic molecular hybrid nonlinear optical materials were prepared by incorporating azobenzene nonlinear optical chromophores into nanosized, inorganic, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane. Each of the hybrids was soluble in common solvents such as CHCl3, THF, toluene and C2H4Cl2, and exhibited good film-forming properties. Their structures and properties were characterized using FTIR, H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, Si-29 NMR, UV, TGA, DSC and nonlinear optical analyses, respectively. All hybrid compounds displayed good optical limiting properties, large nonlinear optical response and high thermal stability. The optical limiting mechanism was investigated. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.