Synthesis and characterization of novel photoconducting carbazole derivatives in main-chain polymers for photorefractive applications

We have prepared hole-transporting polymers that have carbazole and 3,3′-dicarbazole in the main chain by polycondensation based on Fridel–Craft reaction via cations generated by proton of p-toluene sulfonic acid catalyst. In the device, they display high diffraction efficiency at low external electric field. The DiCz composite had a high diffraction efficiency of 82.4% at 52 V/μm and a photorefractive response time constant of 1.18 s at an electric field of 50 V/μm and a writing intensity of 60 mW/cm2. The samples have excellent properties with respect to optical quality and shelf-lifetime.