ORGANIC MATERIAL UNDERGOING LIGHT-INDUCED PHASE TRANSITION

摘要

An organic material undergoing light-induced phase transition comprising adiheteroarylethene compound which in a crystalline stateundergoes a photochromic reaction. The diheteroarylethene compound reversiblychanges in color upon irradiation with light. It comesinto a liquid phase state in the course of a change from a crystalline open-ring form to a crystalline closed-ring form or in the course of achange from a crystalline closed-ring form to a crystalline open-ring form.The compound is usable in optical recording media, displaypanels, sensors, optical switch elements, etc. so as to take advantage of notonly the color changing upon light irradiation but differences inrefractive index, transmittance, etc. caused by phase changes.