DFT analysis and third-harmonic generation properties of one series of push–pull benzylidenemalononitrile derivatives

• Published in: The European physical journal. D, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics Vol. 76; no. 6
• Main Authors: Sakki, B., Taboukhat, S., Messaadia, L., Guergouri, M., Bouraiou, A., Nasri, R., Figa, V., Bouchouit, K., Sahraoui, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-06-2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Applications of Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos Theory; Atomic; Electrochemical analysis; Electrons; Evaluation; Harmonic generations; Malononitrile; Mathematical analysis; Molecular; NMR; Nonlinear optics; Nonlinear response; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Optical and Plasma Physics; Optical properties; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Quantum chemistry; Quantum Information Technology; Quantum Physics; Regular Article – Molecular Physics and Chemical Physics; Spectroscopy/Spectrometry; Spintronics; Thin films
• ISSN: 1434-6060; 1434-6079
• DOI: 10.1140/epjd/s10053-022-00424-4

Optical and nonlinear optical properties of benzylidenemalononitrile derivatives with different electron-donating groups’ substituents were studied. Four benzylidenemalononitrile derivatives [benzylidenemalononitrile
(1)
, (4-chlorobenzylidene)malononitrile
(2)
, (4-hydroxybenzylidene)malononitrile
(3)
and (4-(dimethylamino)benzylidene)malononitrile
(4)
] were functionalized, synthesized and analyzed using 1H NMR, FTIR, and UV–vis. A study of electrochemical properties was conducted using cyclic voltammetry. The third-harmonic generation technique was used to analyze and evaluate the susceptibility (
χ
THG
<
3
>
) of cubic nonlinear optical properties on thin films at 1064 nm. THG measurements using the Maker fringe technique were used to analyze and evaluate the susceptibility
χ
<
3
>
parameter of thin films of PMMA with embedded molecules. The studied benzylidenemalononitrile substituted with a strong electron-donating group showed considerable nonlinear responses. Theoretical analysis was performed using DFT/B3LYP/6-311G++ (
d
,
p
) and Gaussian 09 program quantum chemical calculations. Third-order nonlinear optical response increases proportionally with the electron-donating character of the substituent groups.
Graphical abstract