Photoactive Organic Materials Science and Applications

In June 25-30, 1995 the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on" PhotoactifOrganic Materials: Science and Applications, devoted to organic materials and their specific responses to the light beam in view of their exploitation in devices was held in Novotel hotel in Avignon, France. It consisted ofplenary lectures, given by leading specialists in tbis field, shorter oral contributions and a poster session. Three working groups discussed more specific aspects related to (i) molecular engineering, (ii) electroluminescence and photorefractive effects as weil as (iii) nonlinear optical response of these materials, respectively. It allowed deeper insights into different problems and aspects of the workshop field. The conclusions of working groups were presented last day by their leaders. These pointed out the progress, problems encountered as weil as possible developments. The presentations have been followed by a plenary, brainstorm . discussion. The talks presented ranged around the working group subjects. Important progress was noted in the field of organic light emitted diodes (LEDls), as discussed and presented by several speakers. Light emission over the entire visible spectrum, from blue to red is possible with organic polymers. Tbis can be done on large, flexible surfaces with low cost. The best organic LEDls show actually the operation life time of 1600 to 1700 hours at room temperature. One expects their commercialization in the near future. Sirnilarly, important progress has been accomplished with photorefractive of merit for these materials are better than those for polymers.

Theoretical Considerations.- Excitations in Organic Crystalline Nanostructures: Some Theoretical Aspects for Nonlinear Optics.- Vibronic Contributions in Frequency-Dependent Linear and Nonlinear Optical Processes: A Joint Experimental and Theoretical Study.- Exciton Self-Organization in Organic and Inorganic Materials under Light Pumping.- Quantum Mechanical Investigations of Photoactive Molecules, Supermolecules, Supramolecules and Design of Basic Elements of Molecular Computers.- Excitonic Self-Induced Transparency in Organic Semiconductor Structures.- Nonlinear Optical Effects and Applications.- Two Photon Processes in Organic Molecules and Polymers.- Resonant Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Processes in Organic Molecules.- Chirality Effects in Second-Order Nonlinear Optics.- New Developments in Molecular Engineering: From One- to Three-Dimensional Metal Complexes.- Optical Limiting of Fullerene Derivatives Embedded in Sol-Gel Materials.- Optimizing Secondary Properties and EO Coefficients of EO Polymers.- Photoactive Organic Materials for Electro-Optic Modulator and High Density Optical Memory Applications.- Component Integration and Applications with Organic Polymers.- Polymer Material Systems for E/O Waveguide Devices.- Recent Progress in Polymer Based Electro-Optic Modulators: Materials and Technology.- Nonlinear Optical Properties of Stable Sol-Gel Systems.- Polymeric Gratings for Frequency Conversion — Second and Half Harmonic Generation.- Electro-Optical Modulation in Organic Waveguides using Grating Couplers.- Photorefractivity, Photochromism and Electroluminescence.- Organic Photorefractive Materials.- Conjugated Polymers for Electroluminescence: Principles and Prospects.- Organic Electroluminescence and Applications.- Photochromism and Its Applications inReal-Time Holography.- Photoactivity of Bacteriorhodopsin: Properties, Mechanisms and Applications.- Molecular Engineering, Material Processing and Characterization and Molecular Electronics Applications.- Synthesis and Spectroelectrochemical Study of Poly(3,3’-Dialkoxy-2,2’-Bithiophenes) and Poly(4,4’-Dialkyl-2,2’-Bithiophenes).- Photoactive Molecular Multilayer Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) Films of Oriented Dipolar Betaine Type Organic Molecules.- Design and Characterization of Organic Channel Waveguides.- Photobleaching Mechanisms in Azobenzene Functionalized Polymethacrylates.- Photoconductive Polymers and Their use in Molecular Devices.- Modulation of the Optical Properties of Sexithiophene Thin Films by Field-Effect Charges.- Formation and Electrical and Optical Properties of Multi-Component Langmuir-Blodgett Films Containing Poly(3-n-Alkylthiophenes).- Silent and Higher Order Vibrations in the Infrared Transmission of C60 Clathrates.- Conformation and Electronic Structure in Poly(alkylthiophenes).- New Effects and Phenomena.- Optical Effects in Dye-Doped Liquid Crystals.- Dye-Doped Liquid Crystal for Real-Time Holography: Nematic Reorientation Induced by Photoconductivity.- A Common Model for Optical Ordering of Photoisomerizable Molecules.- All Optical Poling of Polymers.- Nonlinear Gyrotropic Propagation.- Working Group Reports.- Molecular Engineering.- Nonlinear Optical Phenomena.- Electroluminescence and Photorefractivity.