Nonlinear Optical Materials for Hybrid Semiconductor Optoelectronic Integrated Circuits

The major objective of this proposed program is to develop high performance E/O polymers and to provide the technology basis for the design and fabrication of reliable hybrid integrated optical circuits. The proposed work includes the selection and synthesis of several families of high performance polymers and their combination with highly efficient and thermally stable heteroaromatic NLO chromophores via guest/host, side-chain. covalent bonding and crosslinking techniques. At the end of this Phase I program we will demonstrate the feasibility of achieving: * High temperature alignment stability of the poled polymers 250'C stability for IC bonding IOO'C long term thermal stability *E/O coefficient > 20 pm/V for the material *Optical loss < 1.0 dB/cm for the material In addition we will prepare and present schemes to fabricate a multilayer HIOC using materials developed in this program and existing in house process and design technology. We have developed a new approach which simultaneously increases both the E/O coefficient and the thermal stability. The resultant material also possesses excellent processing characteristics and has been fabricated into test devices. For the past five years ROITech and Enichem America have been jointly developing materials and process technology for the development of HIOC devices. This materials technology is based on new chromophores containing heteroaromatic units and their combination with several high temperature polymer systems. this new proven technology forms the basis of this proposal and has the highest probability of achieving the program goals and of being carried into production of HIOC devices.