Crosslinked compositions comprising a poly(arylene ether) and a nonlinear optical chromophore, and devices incorporating same

1. An electro-optic device comprising a composition made by a process comprising: a) providing precursor composition comprising a nonlinear optical chromophore having the structure D-π-A and a polymer comprising units having the formula

and b) crosslinking the polymer, wherein:

D is a donor;

π is a π-bridge;

A is an acceptor;

Q 1 comprises at least one aryl or heteroaryl group;

Q 2 comprises at least one aryl or heteroaryl group;

X 1 is O bonded directly to an aryl carbon of Q 1 ;

X 2 is O bonded directly to an aryl carbon of Q 2 ;

Z is a linker comprising at least one —(C(R 2 ) 2 )— group;

Y is a single bond or a linker group;

R 1 is independently at each occurrence H, a halogen, an alkyl group, a heteroalkyl group, an aryl group, or a heteroaryl group;

R 2 is independently at each occurrence H, an alkyl group, or a heteroalkyl group; and

R 3 is H or a crosslinkable group.

2. The electro-optic device of claim 1 , wherein the electro-optic device is selected from the group consisting of an optical modulator, an optical switch, and an optical directional coupler.

3. The electro-optic device of claim 1 , comprising: 1) an input waveguide; 2) an output waveguide; 3) a first leg having a first end and a second end, the first leg being coupled to the input waveguide at the first end and to the output waveguide at the second end; and 4) and a second leg having a first end and a second end, the second leg being coupled to the input waveguide at the first end and to the output waveguide at the second end.

4. The electro-optic device of claim 1 , comprising: 1) an input; 2) an output; 3) a first waveguide extending between the input and output; and 4) a second waveguide aligned to the first waveguide and positioned for evanescent coupling to the first waveguide.

5. An optical router including the electro-optic device of claim 1 .

6. A communications system including at least one electro-optic device of claim 1 .

7. A method of data transmission comprising transmitting light through the electro-optic device of claim 1 .

8. A method of telecommunication comprising transmitting light through the the electro-optic device of claim 1 .

9. A method of transmitting light comprising directing light through or via the the electro-optic device of claim 1 .

10. A method of routing light through an optical system comprising transmitting light through or via the electro-optic device of claim 1 .