Synthesis and Nonlinear Optical Properties of a New Two-photon Polymerization Initiator: DPAMOB with a Large TPA Cross-section

E,E-1,4-Bis(4′-N,N-diphenylaminostyryl)-2,5-dimethoxybenzene (DPAMOB) has been synthesized by a simple and effective solid phase Wittig reaction and characterized by ¹H NMR spectra and elemental analysis. Linear absorption, single-photon induced fluorescence and two-photon induced fluorescence spectra were experimentally studied. The new dye has a large two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-section of σ_r=1007.2 GM [1 GM=1×10⁻⁵⁰ cm⁴·s/(photon molecule)] at 800 nm measured by the two-photon induced fluorescence method. The experimental results confirm that DPAMOB is a good TPA chromophore and can successfully initiate two-photon photopolymerization of ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate esters (SR454). Finally, a microstructure has been fabricated by use of DPAMOB as initiator.