Single-Molecule Fluorescence Photoswitching of a Diarylethene−Perylenebisimide Dyad: Non-destructive Fluorescence Readout

Single-molecule fluorescence photoswitching plays an essential role in ultrahigh-density (Tbits/inch2) optical memories and super-high-resolution fluorescence imaging. Although several fluorescent photochromic molecules and fluorescent proteins have been applied, so far, to optical memories and supe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of the American Chemical Society Vol. 133; no. 13; pp. 4984 - 4990
Main Authors Fukaminato, Tuyoshi, Doi, Takao, Tamaoki, Nobuyuki, Okuno, Katsuki, Ishibashi, Yukihide, Miyasaka, Hiroshi, Irie, Masahiro
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published WASHINGTON American Chemical Society 06.04.2011
Amer Chemical Soc
Subjects
Chemistry
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ethylenes - chemistry
Fluorescence
Imides - chemistry
Molecular Structure
Perylene - analogs & derivatives
Perylene - chemistry
Photochemical Processes
Physical Sciences
Science & Technology
Spectrometry, Fluorescence
Stereoisomerism
CHEMISTRY
NANOPARTICLES
DEPLETION
MEMORIES
ELECTRON-TRANSFER
PHOTOCHROMIC DIARYLETHENE
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Summary:Single-molecule fluorescence photoswitching plays an essential role in ultrahigh-density (Tbits/inch2) optical memories and super-high-resolution fluorescence imaging. Although several fluorescent photochromic molecules and fluorescent proteins have been applied, so far, to optical memories and super-high-resolution imaging, their performance is unsatisfactory because of the absence of “non-destructive fluorescence readout capability”. Here we report on a new molecular design principle of a molecule having non-destructive readout capability. The molecule is composed of acceptor photochromic diarylethene and donor fluorescent perylenebisimide units. The fluorescence is reversibly quenched when the diarylethene unit converts between the open- and the closed-ring isomers upon irradiation with visible and UV light. The fluorescence quenching is based on an electron transfer from the donor to the acceptor units. The fluorescence photoswitching and non-destructive readout capability were demonstrated in solution (an ensemble state) and at the single-molecule level. Femtosecond time-resolved transient and fluorescent lifetime measurements confirmed that the fluorescence quenching is attributed to the intramolecular electron transfer.
ISSN:0002-7863
1520-5126
DOI:10.1021/ja110686t