Langmuir-Blodgett coating process

Claim 2

A process for forming a continuous film on a solid substrate which comprises coating the substrate surface by Langmuir-Blodgett deposition technique with at least one monomolecular layer of uniaxially aligned surface active organic molecules, wherein the deposition technique comprises (1) compressing the monomolecular layer of surface active organic molecules spread on the water surface in a Langmuir-Blodgett trough until the area per extended organic chain of the uniaxially aligned molecule is less than about 30 Å 2 /chain; (2) reducing the compression on the monomolecular layer by about 5-40 dynes per centimeter; and (3) dip-coating the substrate with the monomolecular layer while maintaining a constant compression on the area of uniaxially aligned molecules spread on the water surface.

Claim 3

A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the area per extended organic chain of the molecule in step(2) is between about 14-30 square angstroms, and the surface tension is between about 20-60 dynes per centimeter.

Claim 4

A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the continuous film on the substrate surface comprises at least two monomolecular layers of uniaxially aligned organic molecules.

Claim 5

A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the continuous film on the substrate surface has a centrosymmetric molecular configuration.

Claim 6

A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the continuous film on the substrate surface has a noncentrosymmetric molecular configuration.

Claim 7

A process for preparing a nonlinear optical medium which comprises coating a transparent solid substrate surface by Langmuir-Blodgett deposition technique with a continuous film of at least one monomolecular layer of uniaxially aligned quinodimethane molecules corresponding to the formula: ##STR5## where R is a substituent selected from aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic groups containing between about 6-30 carbon atoms, and R 1 is hydrogen or an R substituent; and n is an integer with a value of 0-3; wherein the deposition technique comprises (1) compressing the monomolecular layer of quinodimethane molecules spread on the water surface in a Langmuir-Blodgett trough until the area per uniaxially aligned molecule is less than about 55 Å 2 /molecule; (2) reducing the compression on the monomolecular layer by about 5-40 dynes per centimeter; and (3) dip-coating the substrate with the monomolecular layer while maintaining a constant compression on the area of uniaxially aligned quinodimethane molecules spread on the water surface.

Claim 8

A process for preparing a nonlinear optical medium which comprises coating a transparent solid substrate surface by Langmuir-Blodgett deposition technique with a continuous film of at least one monomolecular layer of uniaxially aligned quinodimethane molecules corresponding to the formula: ##STR5## where R is a substituent selected from aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic groups containing between about 6-30 carbon atoms, and R 1 is hydrogen or an R substituent; and n is an integer with a value of 0-3; wherein the deposition technique comprises (1) compressing the monomolecular layer of quinodimethane molecules spread on the water surface in a Langmuir-Blodgett trough until the area per uniaxially aligned molecule is less than about 55 Å 2 /molecule; (2) reducing the compression on the monomolecular layer by about 5-40 dynes per centimeter; and (3) dip-coating the substrate with the monomolecular layer while maintaining a constant compression on the area of uniaxially aligned quinodimethane molecules spread on the water surface.

Claim 9

A process in accordance with claim 6 wherein n in the quinodimethane formula is zero.

Claim 10

A process in accordance with claim 6 wherein n in the quinodimethane formula is one.

Claim 11

A process in accordance with claim 6 wherein the R substituent in the quinodimethane formula is in an alkyl group containing between about 10-20 carbon atoms, and R 1 is hydrogen.

Claim 12

A process in accordance with claim 6 wherein the substrate surface coating comprises at least two monomolecular layers of uniaxially aligned quinodimethane molecules.

Claim 13

A process in accordance with claim 6 wherein the nonlinear optical medium exhibits second order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ.sup.(2).

Claim 14

A process in accordance with claim 6 wherein the nonlinear optical medium exhibits third order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ.sup.(3).

Claim 15

A process in accordance with claim 6 wherein the quinodimethane is 7,7-di[di(decyl)amino]-8,8-dicyanoquinodimethane.

Claim 16

A process in accordance with claim 6 wherein the quinodimethane is 7,7-di(hexadecylamino)-8,8-dicyanoquinodimethane.

Claim 17

A process in accordance with claim 6 wherein the quinodimethane is 13,13-di(hexadecylamino)-14,14-dicyanodiphenoquinodimethane.

Claim 18

A process in accordance with claim 6 wherein the quinodimethane is 13,13-ethylenediamino-14,14-dicyanodiphenoquinodimethane.

Claim 19

A process for preparing a nonlinear optical medium which comprises coating a transparent solid substrate surface by Langmuir-Blodgett deposition technique with a continuous film of at least one monomolecular layer of uniaxially aligned quinodimethane molecules corresponding to the formula: ##STR6## where R is a substituent selected from aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic groups containing between about 6-30 carbon atoms, and R 1 is hydrogen or a R substituent; wherein the deposition technique comprises (1) compressing the monomolecular layer of quinodimethane molecules spread on the water surface in a Langmuir-Blodgett trough until the area per uniaxial aligned molecule is less than about 55 Å 2 /molecule; (2) reducing the compression on the monomolecular layer by about 5-40 dynes per centimeter; and (3) dip-coating the substrate with the monomolecular layer while maintaining a constant compression on the area of uniaxially aligned quinodimethane molecules spread on the water surface.

Claim 20

A process for preparing a nonlinear optical medium which comprises coating a transparent solid substrate surface by Langmuir-Blodgett deposition technique with a continuous film of at least one monomolecular layer of uniaxially aligned quinodimethane molecules corresponding to the formula: ##STR6## where R is a substituent selected from aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic groups containing between about 6-30 carbon atoms, and R 1 is hydrogen or a R substituent; wherein the deposition technique comprises (1) compressing the monomolecular layer of quinodimethane molecules spread on the water surface in a Langmuir-Blodgett trough until the area per uniaxial aligned molecule is less than about 55 Å 2 /molecule; (2) reducing the compression on the monomolecular layer by about 5-40 dynes per centimeter; and (3) dip-coating the substrate with the monomolecular layer while maintaining a constant compression on the area of uniaxially aligned quinodimethane molecules spread on the water surface.

Claim 21

A process in accordance with claim 17 wherein n in the quinodimethane formula is zero.

Claim 22

A process in accordance with claim 17 wherein n in the quinodimethane formula is one.

Claim 23

A process in accordance with claim 17 wherein the R substituent in the quinodimethane formula is in an alkyl group containing between about 10-20 carbon atoms, and R 1 is hydrogen.

Claim 24

A process in accordance with claim 17 wherein the substrate surface coating comprises at least two monomolecular layers of uniaxially aligned quinodimethane molecules.

Claim 25

A process in accordance with claim 17 wherein the nonlinear optical medium exhibits second order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ.sup.(2).

Claim 26

A process in accordance with claim 17 wherein the nonlinear optical medium exhibits third order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ.sup.(3).

Claim 27

A process in accordance with claim 17 wherein the quinodimethane is 13,13-di(hexadecylamino)-14,14-dicyano-4,5,9,10-tetrahydropyrenoquinodimethane.

Claim 28

A process in accordance with claim 17 wherein the quinodimethane is 13,13-ethylenediamino-14,14-dicyano-4,5,9,10-tetrahydropyrenoquinodimethane.

Claim 29

A process for preparing a nonlinear optical medium which comprises coating a transparent solid substrate surface by Langmuir-Blodgett deposition technique with a continuous film of at least one monomolecular layer of uniaxially aligned quinodimethane molecules corresponding to the formula: ##STR7## where R is a substituent selected from aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic groups containing between about 6-30 carbon atoms, and R 1 is hydrogen or a R substituent; wherein the deposition technique comprises (1) compressing the monomolecular layer of quinodimethane molecules spread on the water surface in a Langmuir-Blodgett trough until the area per uniaxial aligned molecule is less than about 55 Å 2 /molecule; (2) reducing the compression on the monomolecular layer by about 5-40 dynes per centimeter; and (3) dip-coating the substrate with the monomolecular layer while maintaining a constant compression on the area of uniaxially aligned quinodimethane molecules spread on the water surface.

Claim 30

A process for preparing a nonlinear optical medium which comprises coating a transparent solid substrate surface by Langmuir-Blodgett deposition technique with a continuous film of at least one monomolecular layer of uniaxially aligned quinodimethane molecules corresponding to the formula: ##STR7## where R is a substituent selected from aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic groups containing between about 6-30 carbon atoms, and R 1 is hydrogen or a R substituent; wherein the deposition technique comprises (1) compressing the monomolecular layer of quinodimethane molecules spread on the water surface in a Langmuir-Blodgett trough until the area per uniaxial aligned molecule is less than about 55 Å 2 /molecule; (2) reducing the compression on the monomolecular layer by about 5-40 dynes per centimeter; and (3) dip-coating the substrate with the monomolecular layer while maintaining a constant compression on the area of uniaxially aligned quinodimethane molecules spread on the water surface.

Claim 31

A process in accordance with claim 26 wherein n in the quinodimethane formula is zero.

Claim 32

A process in accordance with claim 26 wherein n in the quinodimethane formula is one.

Claim 33

A process in accordance with claim 26 wherein the R substituent in the quinodimethane formula is in an alkyl group containing between about 10-20 carbon atoms, and R 1 is hydrogen.

Claim 34

A process in accordance with claim 26 wherein the substrate surface coating comprises at least two monomolecular layers of uniaxially aligned quinodimethane molecules.

Claim 35

A process in accordance with claim 26 wherein the nonlinear optical medium exhibits second order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ.sup.(2).

Claim 36

A process in accordance with claim 26 wherein the nonlinear optical medium exhibits third order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ.sup.(3).

Claim 37

A process in accordance with claim 26 wherein the quinodimethane is 11,11-di(hexadecylamino)-12,12-dicyano-2,6-naphthoquinodimethane.

Claim 38

A process in accordance with claim 26 wherein the quinodimethane is 11,11-ethylenediamino-12,12-dicyano-2,6-naphthoquinodimethane.

Claim 39

A coated substrate produced in accordance with the process of claim 1.

Claim 40

A nonlinear optical medium produced in accordance with the process of claim 6.

Claim 41

A nonlinear optical medium in accordance with the process of claim 17.

Claim 42

A nonlinear optical medium in accordance with the process of claim 26.