Photochromic Materials: More Than Meets The Eye

Photochromic materials are a family of compounds which can undergo reversible photo‐switches between two different states or isomers with remarkably different properties. Inspired by their smart photo‐switchable characteristics, a variety of light‐driven functional materials have been exploited, suc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Advanced materials (Weinheim) 2013-01, Vol.25 (3), p.378-399
Main Authors: Zhang, Junji, Zou, Qi, Tian, He
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Color
Data storage
Electronic devices
Excitation
Gates
Humans
Liquid Crystals - chemistry
Logic
Organic Chemicals - chemistry
Photochemical Processes
Sensors
Surface Properties
Switches
Thiophenes - chemistry
Wire
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Summary:Photochromic materials are a family of compounds which can undergo reversible photo‐switches between two different states or isomers with remarkably different properties. Inspired by their smart photo‐switchable characteristics, a variety of light‐driven functional materials have been exploited, such as ultrahigh‐density optical data storage, molecular switches, logic gates, molecular wires, optic/electronic devices, sensors, bio‐imaging and so on. This review commences with a brief description of exciting progress in this field, from systems in solution to modified functional surfaces. Further development of these photo‐switchable systems into practical applications as well as existing challenges are also discussed and put in prospect. Inspired by the smart photoswitchable characteristics of photochromic materials, a variety of light‐driven functional materials have been exploited, such as ultrahigh‐density optical data storage, molecular switches, logic gates, molecular wires, optic/electronic devices, sensors, bio‐imaging and so on. This review commences with a brief description of exciting progress in this field and further development of these photo‐switchable systems into practical applications as well as existing challenges are also discussed.
ISSN:0935-9648
1521-4095
DOI:10.1002/adma.201201521