A photochromic liquid crystal system

摘要

Switching molecular or supramolecular systems reversibly from one state to another, with both states having significantly different properties using light is widespread in biological systems and has been in the focus of materials research for many years. Such synthetic systems are promising as high density data storage systems, sensors, photonic switches or as molecular logic gates. There the concept of optically addressable molecules promises miniaturisation to the molecular level and potentially the direction towards optical computing on that level. Our approach is based on the concept that the functional groups and the properties in such molecules, if suitably selected can add up to attractive properties in the self-assembled molecular systems. Rational design allows of the photochromic core and the mesogenic groups for the modulation of the photochromic behaviour, the absorption properties, the quantum yields of the photo conversion processes and the conversion obtained at the photostationary state. The use of suitable mesogens allows for the use of the FRET effect for the switching behaviour.