Photorefractive Polymers for Updatable 3D Displays

Photorefractive (PR) polymer composites developed for 3D display applications contain a copolymer as the hole-transporting host matrix. The copolymer approach is followed to reduce the phase separation typical in guest-host polymer systems with low glass transition temperature (Tg), thus allowing increased loading of functional components such as NLO chromophores. The copolymer consists of a polyacrylate backbone with pendant groups tetraphenyldiaminobiphenyltype (TPD) and carbaldehyde aniline (CAAN) attached through an alkoxy linker (PATPD-CAAN). A fluorinated dicyanostyrene (FDCST) NLO chromophore was added to provide sufficient refractive index change and charge generation at the wavelength of interest (532 nm). The plasticizer Nethyl carbazole (ECZ) was also used to reduce the Tg to room temperature. In some composites, a fullerene derivative [6,6]-Phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) was used to provide improved sensitization.