Chapter 15
Solid-State Fluorescence Switching Using
Photochromic Diarylethenes
Seiya Kobatake and Tatsumoto Nakahama
Abstract Solid-state fluorescence-switchable materials that show large changes
in fluorescence intensities and/or colors in response to various external stimuli
have attracted much attention in various applications, such as optical memories,
display devices, and sensor materials. In particular, fluorescence switching using
photochromic diarylethenes has been widely investigated because of the excellent
performance of diarylethene with high thermal stabilities, high fatigue-resistant properties, and high reactivity in the solid states. Although many researchers investigated
the fluorescence switching properties only in solution, the evaluation in solid states
is essential for the practical applications. This chapter has focused on solid-state
fluorescence switching behavior using diarylethene and reviewed the rational design
and the properties for various types of the fluorescence-switchable materials.
Keywords Photochromism · Fluorescence switching · Diarylethene · Solid state
15.1 Introduction
Photochromic compounds that undergo a reversible transformation between two
isomers having different absorption spectra upon photoirradiation have attracted
much attention because various physicochemical properties, such as conductivity,
fluorescence, and magnetism, can be modulated without any direct physical contact.
Diarylethene is one of the most promising molecules exhibiting the excellent performance, with high thermal stabilities, high photocyclization quantum yields, and
high fatigue-resistant properties compared to other photochromic compounds [1].
In addition, diarylethenes can undergo the photochromic reaction even in the solid
states, such as polymer films and the crystalline phase. The reversible changes in the
various physicochemical properties accompanying with the photochromic reaction
of diarylethenes can be applied to optical memory media, various photoswitching
devices, light-driven actuators, and so on.
S. Kobatake (B) · T. Nakahama
Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka City University, 3-3-138 Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka
558-8585, Japan
e-mail: kobatake@a-chem.eng.osaka-cu.ac.jp
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
M. Sakamoto and H. Uekusa (eds.), Advances in Organic Crystal Chemistry,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-5085-0_15
299
Solid-State Fluorescence Switching Using
Photochromic Diarylethenes
Seiya Kobatake and Tatsumoto Nakahama
Abstract Solid-state fluorescence-switchable materials that show large changes
in fluorescence intensities and/or colors in response to various external stimuli
have attracted much attention in various applications, such as optical memories,
display devices, and sensor materials. In particular, fluorescence switching using
photochromic diarylethenes has been widely investigated because of the excellent
performance of diarylethene with high thermal stabilities, high fatigue-resistant properties, and high reactivity in the solid states. Although many researchers investigated
the fluorescence switching properties only in solution, the evaluation in solid states
is essential for the practical applications. This chapter has focused on solid-state
fluorescence switching behavior using diarylethene and reviewed the rational design
and the properties for various types of the fluorescence-switchable materials.
Keywords Photochromism · Fluorescence switching · Diarylethene · Solid state
15.1 Introduction
Photochromic compounds that undergo a reversible transformation between two
isomers having different absorption spectra upon photoirradiation have attracted
much attention because various physicochemical properties, such as conductivity,
fluorescence, and magnetism, can be modulated without any direct physical contact.
Diarylethene is one of the most promising molecules exhibiting the excellent performance, with high thermal stabilities, high photocyclization quantum yields, and
high fatigue-resistant properties compared to other photochromic compounds [1].
In addition, diarylethenes can undergo the photochromic reaction even in the solid
states, such as polymer films and the crystalline phase. The reversible changes in the
various physicochemical properties accompanying with the photochromic reaction
of diarylethenes can be applied to optical memory media, various photoswitching
devices, light-driven actuators, and so on.
S. Kobatake (B) · T. Nakahama
Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka City University, 3-3-138 Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka
558-8585, Japan
e-mail: kobatake@a-chem.eng.osaka-cu.ac.jp
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
M. Sakamoto and H. Uekusa (eds.), Advances in Organic Crystal Chemistry,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-5085-0_15
299