Photocontrolled reversible changes in the electronic and vibrational spectra of photochromic diarylethene in various nanostructured systems

Abstract

An analysis of the results of complex experimental and theoretical studies of photoinduced changes in the spectral properties of photochromic diarylethene in various nanostructured systems is presented. The properties of diarylethene were studied in solutions in the presence of colloidal metal and semiconductor nanoparticles, as well as in the form of solid-phase composite nanostructured core-shell systems based on colloidal nanoparticles with a shell of diarylethene molecules (including in a polymer matrix). A photoinduced reversible change in the electronic and vibrational spectra of diarylethene in various studied matrices was found. The results can be used to create optoelectronic photo-switchable elements for ultra-high-capacity memory devices, photo-controlled molecular switches and sensors. Keywords: photochromism, diarylethenes, nanocomposites, quantum dots, electronic spectra, vibrational spectra, fluorescence, Ferster resonance energy transfer, quantum chemical calculations.