Summary.
Poly-(4-vinylbenzyl-thiocyanate) (PVBT) was investigated as a photoreactive polymer which changes its refractive index upon UV irradiation as is required for the production of phase gratings. After UV irradiation, the refractive index of PVBT films increased from nD 20 = 1.629 to nD 20 = 1.660 (Δn = +0.031). The change in the refractive index resulted mainly from the photoinduced isomerization of thiocyanate (SCN) to isothiocyanate (NCS) groups. It was possible to modify irradiated PVBT with 1-naphthylmethyl amine which lead to a further increase of the refractive index. Both the isomerization and the modification were followed with FTIR spectroscopy. This modification of the irradiated zones also yields an advantageous stabilization of phase gratings enscribed in PVBT. The investigations were carried out in the realm of novel organic distributed feedback (DFB) lasers.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received August 22, 2000. Accepted September 22, 2000
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kavc, T., Kern, W., Zenz, C. et al. Phase Gratings in Photoreactive Polymers:A Way to Optically Pumped Organic Lasers. Monatshefte fuer Chemie 132, 531–540 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s007060170115
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s007060170115