Fluorescence readout of near-field photochromic memory

Non-volatile optical memory based on cooperative orientation switching: improvement of recording speed and contrast by utilizing out-of-plane orientation mode

Herein, we report a novel strategy toward non-volatile optical memory with high-contrast, high-speed recording, and non-destructive readout capability based on the cooperative out-of-plane orientation of a fluorescent dye doped into azobenzene liquid crystalline polymer film. By employing the out-of-plane orientation switching upon irradiation with UV light and thermal heating, high-contrast turn-on fluorescence switching was successfully achieved and the optical recording was demonstrated with non-destructive fluorescence readout capability. Furthermore, the recording speed and the fluorescence on/off contrast in the present system were dramatically improved compared to the previous in-plane orientation mode.

25th anniversary article: organic electronics marries photochromism: generation of multifunctional interfaces, materials, and devices

Organic semiconductors have garnered significant interest as key components for flexible, low-cost, and large-area electronics. Hitherto, both materials and processing thereof seems to head towards a mature technology which shall ultimately meet expectations and efforts built up over the past years. However, by its own organic electronics cannot compete or complement the silicon-based electronics in integrating multiple functions in a small area unless novel solutions are brought into play. Photochromic molecules are small organic molecules able to undergo reversible photochemical isomerization between (at least) two (meta)stable states which exhibit markedly different properties. They can be embedded as additional component in organic-based materials ready to be exploited in devices such as OLEDs, OFETs, and OLETs. The structurally controlled incorporation of photochromic molecules can be done at various interfaces of a device, including the electrode/semiconductor or dielectric/semiconductor interface, or even as a binary mixture in the active layer, in order to impart a light responsive nature to the device. This can be accomplished by modulating via a light stimulus fundamental physico-chemical properties such as charge injection and transport in the device.

Multilayered optical memory with bits stored as refractive index change. I. Electromagnetic theory

With the Lippman-Schwinger equation, dyadic Green's functions, and the vector coherent transfer function method, an electromagnetic theory of a waveguide multilayered optical memory is first developed for the static case, from which a theory describing a conventional multilayered optical memory with bits stored as a refractive index change is also derived. In addition, the formulas for readout signals and cross talk are given, and some problems of numerical calculations are discussed. The theories can be used effectively for optimum design of a multilayered optical memory with bits stored as a refractive index change.

Amphiphilic azo polymer spheres, colloidal monolayers, and photoinduced chromophore orientation

In this work, azobenzene-containing colloidal spheres have been fabricated and used to construct photoresponsive monolayers. The colloidal spheres were prepared from an amphiphilic azobenzene-containing random copolymer through hydrophobic aggregation of the polymer chains, which was induced by adding the selective solvent (H2O) into a THF solution of the polymer. The size and size distribution of the spheres depended on the initial concentration of the azo polymer in THF and the H2O/THF ratio. Adjusting those factors and optimizing other preparation conditions, uniform colloidal spheres could be obtained. Monolayers composed of hexagonally close-packed colloidal spheres were prepared by the capillary-force-driven method. The colloidal monolayers showed obvious dichroism after laser irradiation due to the photoinduced azo-chromophore orientation occurred in the spheres. The orientation order parameter was related to the irradiation time and estimated to be 0.09 at the photostationary state. The colloidal spheres and their monolayers can potentially be used as building blocks or media for reversible optical data storage, photo-switching, sensors, and other photo-driven devices.

Theoretical study of signal-to-noise ratio on near-field photochromic memory with fluorescence readout

The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) on the fluorescence readout of a near-field photochromic memory was theoretically studied. Under various conditions the shot-noise-limited SNR was analyzed. SNR by bright spot recording (BSR) that was better than that by dark spot recording (DSR) was obtained under the condition of low writing power or wide bandwidth. Under the condition of bandwidth W = 1 MHz and P(write) = 10(-8) W only BSR can attain sufficiently high SNR, and the SNR was greater by as much as 30 dB than that of DSR. It was concluded that BSR is a promising method for high-density near-field photochromic memory with a fluorescence readout.