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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 March 2011
Substituent effects are quite important in fine tuning the photonic properties of conjugated molecules. In designing new chromophores, electron-donating or withdrawing substituents affect the electron distribution in the conjugation sequence, and previous studies to establish structure- property relationships have noted that when second row elements replace first row elements in the structure (e.g. S for O in donor groups), large enhancements of both the second and third order optical nonlinearity are observed. However, along with the observed enhancement of the nonlinearity, a red-shift in the absorption spectra occurs, often with peak broadening and tailing. This absorptivity-nonlinearity trade-off has been a constant concern in proposing organic materials for electro-optic device applications. In this presentation we will review our recent activity in designing new chromophores wherein P replaces N in donor groups and dendrimer building blocks, and the consequences and opportunities resulting from the observed large blue shifts in the spectra.