Novel nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophore based on 6-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-1H-indole as the electron donor group was designed and synthesized. The molecular structure of this chromophore was characterized by H-1 NMR spectra, C-13 NMR spectra, and MS spectra. The delocalized energy level was estimated by UV-Vis. spectra. The thermal property was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The poled films containing chromophores ZML-1 with a loading density of 10 wt% in amorphous polycarbonate (APC) afford an average electro-optic (EO) coefficient (T-33) of 19 pm/V at 1310 nm. Compared to the reported aniline based chromophore (r(33) = 12 pm/V) analogues, chromophore ZML-1 exhibits enhanced electro-optical activity. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.