Photorefractive triphenylamine-based glass: a multifunctional low molecular weight compound with fast holographic response

A novel organic photorefractive composite system is presented consisting of the amorphous multifunctional low-molar mass compound DR1-DCTA, doped with C 60 as sensitizer and diisooctyl phthalate (DOP) as plasticizer. DR1-DCTA, a carbazole substituted triphenylamine with a covalently attached nonlinear optical azo chromophore unit has been synthesized in a 4 step reaction. The compound forms a stable glass. Its thermal, optical and electrochemical properties are discussed. Holographic experiments (2BC, DFWM) of the photorefractive composite exhibit a fast response time in the range of only 30 ms and a maximum gain coefficient of 90 cm –1 .