Stable SHG from in situ grown oriented nanocrystals of [(E)-N,N-dimethylamino-N '-methylstilbazolium][p-toluenesulfonate] in a PMMA film

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films with 4 wt% of the ionic second order NLO chromophore[(E)-N, N-dimethylamino-N'-methylstilbazolium][p-toluenesulfonate] (DAST), obtained by spin-coating of CHCl3-CH3OH (2/1) solutions, show in situ growth of homogeneously dispersed oriented nanocrystals with sizes of less than 100 nm, as supported by TEM and GIXRD evidence. This is achieved by a two step process: corona poling at 8 kV and 90 degrees C followed, in the absence of electric field, by controlled thermal annealing up to 140 degrees C. The final film shows a significant and enduring second harmonic generation (SHG) at room temperature.