Supramolecular assemblies for second order nonlinear optics stabilized by electrostatic interaction

Electrostatic interactions are being used instead of covalent linkage to stabilize orientational order in novel materials for second order nonlinear optics. In complex supramolecular architectures, this simplifies the variation of chromophores or polymeric backbones. Other molecules can readily be inserted into the system in order to tune optical or thermodynamic properties without synthetic effort. Noncentrosymmetric ultrathin films consisting of highly ordered "active-passive" AB-Y-type multilayers of NLO active ionic amphiphiles and an ionic polymeric buffer material have been obtained by the Langmuir-Blodgett-Kuhn (LBK) technique. Combination with self-assembly by adsorption from solution is demonstrated.