A multifunctional conjugated carbazole trimer has been designed as a monolithic photorefractive material. The photorefractive properties of this carbazole trimer were demonstrated by a two-beam coupling experiment at a wavelength of 532 nm. An asymmetric energy transfer between the two beams has been observed. A relatively large two-beam coupling net gain coefficient and a four-wave mixing diffraction efficiency have been obtained. ©1997 American Institute of Physics.