Characterization of electro-optic properties of self-assembled monolayer by attenuated total reflection

The electro-optic (E-O) effect was investigated in a self-assembled monolayer by use of the attenuated total reflection technique. The self-assembled monolayer was composed of a pair of layers, cationic polymer with hemicyanine pendent group and anionic molecule. The surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy enabled the determination of the anisotropic dielectric constants and the thickness of each organic layer. A linear change in the modulation of the reflection curve upon application of a modulating electric field was observed, which is from the E-O response of polar-ordered hemicyanine pendent group.