Student: Joanna White
Project: Semi-Crystalline, Polar Polymer Films: Second Harmonic Generation
Institution: Lafayette College
Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Advisor: Dr. Robert Hickey
Abstract
Second harmonic generation (SHG) is a nonlinear optical property that has enormous potential for transforming the fields of telecommunication and optical information processing. Although SHG was initially found in inorganic single crystals, recent focus has turned to organic materials in order to obtain SHG with quicker response times, larger nonlinear optical susceptibilities, and greater ease of processing. To date, the field has primarily investigated using high glass transition temperature, amorphous polymer matrices doped with chromophores that have nonlinear optical responses. In our work, we will show how semi-crystalline, polar polymers that exhibit nonlinear optical responses are potential candidates for a new class of organic SHG materials. Specifically, thin films of poly(ethylene oxide), a semi-crystalline, polar polymer, have been shown to exhibit second harmonic generation, and the efficiency of the SHG can further be influenced by the deposition method used when producing the films. A thermal gradient crystallization technique has been employed to increase the size and improve the orientation of the crystal grains, and as a result, increasing the SHG activity. The work presented here will potentially open up new avenues to use polymers for nonlinear optical applications, specifically using semi-crystalline polar polymers.
About Joanna White
Joanna White is a Junior, pursuing a Chemical Engineering degree at Lafayette College. She has ongoing research projects both at The Pennsylvania State University and at Lafayette College, focusing on controlling the crystallization of polymers to produce films for specific applications, namely telecommunications and pharmaceutical delivery. When not in the lab, Joanna enjoys spending her time outside skiing, hiking, camping, and kayaking. Joanna plans to pursue a PhD in Chemical Engineering following her graduation from Lafayette. Her hope is to eventually direct and conduct research within the pharmaceutical industry, focusing on discovering novel ways to use polymers for drug delivery.
