A light-induced photochromic nanoswitch capable of non-destructive readout via fluorescence emission: cluster vs. single-molecule excitation of dihydroindolizines

• Published in: Photochemical & photobiological sciences Vol. 8; no. 8; pp. 1172 - 1178
• Main Authors: Hartmann, Thomas, Shrestha, Tej B, Bossmann, Stefan H, Hubner, Christian, Renn, Alois, Durr, Heinz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 2009
• ISSN: 1474-905X; 1474-9092

We have synthesized a prototype of a photochromic styrylquinolyl-dihydroindolizine (DHI), which forms a highly coloured and fluorescent betaine upon irradiation with $\lambda$ < 400 nm. Embedding this photochromic DHI in a thin polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) film permits the non-destructive readout via fluorescence at low temperature (77 K). Thus, either a non-destructive photoswitch or an information recording system becomes available. Both possibilities have been explored: image recording and read-out, as well as information storage (at 77 K) have been demonstrated. Cluster- and single molecule-fluorescence upon laser excitation ($\lambda$ = 355 nm) of the styrylquinolyl-dihydroindolizine in a PMMA matrix, and the effect of fluorescence blinking has been observed.