Fundamental Aspects and Applications of Photoactive and Electro-Optic Polymers

Dear Colleagues,

Photoactive polymers and electro-optic are categorized as polymeric materials that actively interact with and respond to light. In photorefractive polymers, which is one of the electro-optic polymers, light–matter interaction, in particular, induces light–light interaction. So far, photorefractive crystals have shown two-beam coupling in intensity but not in phase because of the phase shift = 90° (π/2). On the other hand, in photorefractive polymers, in addition to intensity coupling, phase coupling is expected because of the phase shift ≠ 90° (π/2). These unique properties provide us with interesting phenomena. Furthermore, orientational enhancement is a huge merit for photorefractive polymers. Photocurrent dynamics is a fundamental phenomenon in photorefractive polymers. Additionally, spatiotemporal photorefractive dynamics is another interesting area. In photoactive polymers, including photorefractive polymers, erasable and rewritable properties can lead to rewritable holographic 3D imaging.

This Special Issue of Polymers aims to collect original articles that address a broad range of topics related to light–matter interaction and new photoactive, electro-optic, and photorefractive polymers, as well as their applications, particularly from the field of polymer material science and engineering. We welcome submissions of novel and original papers, review articles as well as mini reviews, which advance the understandings of the science and technical aspects of the photoactive, electro-optic, and photorefractive polymers. Some potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Electro-optic polymers (Pockels, Kerr);
• Photorefractive polymers (polymers, liquid crystals, composites, and hybrids);
• Photochromic polymers (azo-dye, spiropyran, diarylethane, and chromophore);
• Nonlinear optical polymers (two-photon absorption, Pockels, and Kerr);
• Soft photonic materials (gels, liquid crystals, and solutions);
• Stretchable photoactive materials and devices (photoactive elastomers).

Prof. Dr. Naoto Tsutsumi
Dr. Takafumi Sassa
Dr. Kenji Kinashi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• electro-optic
• photorefractive
• photoactive
• photochromic
• nonlinear optics
• soft photonic materials
• stretchable photoactive materials and devices
• holographic imaging