Abstract
A series of polybenzonitrile derivatives, prepared by plasma glow discharge processes or chemical polymerization, were characterized by FT-IR, UV-Vis, GPC, and VPO etc. The second-order nonlinear optical hyperpolarizability gamma of various benzonitrile monomers and their polymers were measured by the femtosecond time-resolved optical Kerr effect technique, and the structure property relationships are discussed. The power law dependence of gamma on the average polymerization-degree of several polybenzonitrile derivatives is also reported. (Author)