Nondestructive readout of photochromic optical memory using photocurrent detection

Abstract

We proposed and demonstrated a nondestructive readout method using photocurrent detection for photon-mode photochromic memory. The principle of this readout method, which utilized the ionization potential change according to photoisomerzation reaction, was confirmed by using a medium with a photochromic diarylethene layer and phthalocyanine photoabsorbing layer, and by using a near-infrared readout light. We demonstrated perfect nondestructive readout operations over 106 times.

Novel Glassy Nematic Liquid Crystals for Non‐destructive Rewritable Optical Memory and Photonic Switching

“…data storage, [4±6] and biosensors. [7,8] To realize such opportunities the development of lithography techniques that are capable of fabricating large-area periodic nanostructures with reasonable control over their size and periodicity is required. Present commercial optical lithography allows mass replication of nanostructures with~130 nm resolution but is approaching its limit, set by diffraction (~110 nm for UV light with a wavelength of 193 nm).…”

“…Reading the change in absorbance caused by a photochromic reaction will inevitably erase the stored information. Numerous concepts for non-destructive readout have been demonstrated on the basis of fluorescence, [3±5] optical rotary dispersion, [6] and infrared absorption, [7] all in dilute solution, and photoconductivity [8] in neat film. In addition, cholesteric liquid-crystal films whose pitch length can be photoswitched are quite intriguing.…”

Electrical Switching of 1,2‐Bis(2‐methyl‐5‐phenyl‐3‐thienyl) perfluorocyclopentene in the Solid State

“…[8] Among these changes, the modulation of the electronic properties is the most attractive one, because it may be easily incorporated into the existing electronic devices for the development of novel multifunctional devices. Tsujioka et al reported an optical memory device with non-destructive readout, [9] and there are also reports of the use of diarylethene derivatives for chargeinjection modulation [10] and light-controlled organic light emitting diodes. [11] Investigations on the modulation of the conductivity of diarylethene compounds at the single-molecule level have also attracted growing interest.…”

Photochromism of Dihydroindolizines Part XI: Synthesis of Novel Carbon-Rich Photochromic Dihydroindolizines-Based Potential Electronic Devices

“…Compounds that interconvert between different isomers having unique absorption spectra when stimulated with light are referred to as photochromic, and the process is called photochromism. In these systems, the changes in the electronic patterns responsible for the changes in color also result in variations in other practical physical properties such as luminescence [3], electronic conductance [4,5], refractive index [6], optical rotation [7], and viscosity [8,9]. These materials, based on the 1,5-electrocyclization between two distinct isomeric states: ring-opening form (betaine-form) and ring-closed form (DHI-form), are promising candidates for optical storage media and electronic devices [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29].…”