Synthesis of Azo Polyurethane-Urea and Investigation of its Thermo-Optic Properties

Abstract

An azo chromophore molecular S(-)-1,2-bis(4-azophenyl-4-nitro)-ethylenediamine (OABANEDA) was synthesized with 4-nitroaniline and S(-)-1,2-diphenyl ethylenediamine by diazo-coupling reaction. The azo polyurethane-urea (OAAPUU) was obtained from OABANEDA, polyether diol (NJ-210) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI). The structure of OAAPUU was characterized by the Fourier transform infrared and UV-visible spectroscopy. The physical and mechanical properties of OAAPUU were investigated. The refractive index (n) and transmission loss of OAAPUU film were measured at different temperatures and different laser wavelengths (532 nm, 650 nm and 850 nm) by an attenuated total reflection (ATR) technique and CCD digital imaging devices. A Y-branch and Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI-type) switches based on thermo-optic effect of OAAPUU film were designed and simulated. The result showed that the power consumption of the Y-branch switch and the MZI-type switch could be only 0.52 mW and 1 mW, while the response times of the two types switches reach about 0.2 ms and 0.01 ms, respectively.