The development of such materials necessitates a multi-discipline approach involving physical scientists of various specialisations. In order to keep pace with the rapidly developing field of opto-electronics, there is a growing need for molecular materials able to meet the requirements of the new devices which will replace those used in conventional circuitry. The development of such materials will necessitate a multi-discipline approach involving physical scientists of various specialisations.
Current issues are speed, price, size, and reliability of devices.
Despite massive research efforts world-wide, semiconductors and LiNbNO 3 are too slow and expensive. Taking these needs into account, we propose a Network research programme involving synthetic, theoretical and physical chemists directed towards the development of novel materials with improved non-linear optical properties. The aim of the joint research project is to combine the extensive and diverse expertise of the members of the proposed Network in order to solve some critical problems related to NLO properties and to design a range of new materials. To synthesise derivatives for which there is evidence to expect that they will have large non-linearities. To characterise and measure the non-linear properties of the compounds prepared by the synthesis groups.