Nonlinear optical composites of metal cluster laden polymers

摘要

Nonlinear optical composites with large third-order optical response composed of metal clusters uniformly dispersed in polymers are prepared by vapor deposition of a metal onto a cold support while simultaneously cocondensing a vapor of an organic material. Where the organic material is a monomer, it polymerizes either when it comes in contact of the metal and/or when the cold surface is warmed. The unpolymerized monomer is removed to yield a processable composite. When the organic material is a diluent, it deposits as a solid on the cold surface forming a dispersion of the solid metal clusters in the liquid diluent. A polymer solution is then mixed with the dispersion and the composite is formed after removal of the diluent and the solvent for the polymer.