Rapid and reversible shape changes of molecular crystals on photoirradiation

The development of actuators based on materials that reversibly change shape and/or size in response to external stimuli has attracted interest for some time. A particularly intriguing possibility is offered by light-responsive materials, which allow remote operation without the need for direct contact to the actuator. The photo-response of these materials is based on the photoisomerization of constituent molecules (typically trans-cis isomerization of azobenzene chromophores), which gives rise to molecular motions and thereby deforms the bulk material. This effect has been used to create light-deformable polymer films and gels, but the response of these systems is relatively slow. Here we report that molecular crystals based on diarylethene chromophores and with sizes ranging from 10 to 100 micrometres exhibit rapid and reversible macroscopic changes in shape and size induced by ultraviolet and visible light. We find that on exposure to ultraviolet light, a single crystal of 1,2-bis(2-ethyl-5-phenyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene changes from a square shape to a lozenge shape, whereas a rectangular single crystal of 1,2-bis(5-methyl-2-phenyl-4-thiazolyl)perfluorocyclopentene contracts by about 5-7 per cent. The deformed crystals are thermally stable, and switch back to their original state on irradiation with visible light. We find that our crystals respond in about 25 microseconds (that is, about five orders of magnitude faster than the response time of the azobenzene-based polymer systems) and that they can move microscopic objects, making them promising materials for possible light-driven actuator applications.

Acid-induced photochromic system switching of diarylethene derivatives between P- and T-types

P-type photochromic diarylethenes having a diethylamino group can switch to T-type photochromic system by the addition of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid as external stimuli.

Diastereoselective cyclization of a dithienylethene switch through single crystal confinement

Upon UV irradiation of the hydrogen-bond confined crystal state of a dithienylhexafluorocyclopentene with (R)-N-phenylethylamide substituents, the photochemical cyclization reaction proceeds diastereoselectively to form the coloured, closed-ring isomer with 97% de.

Photochromism of a diarylethene charge-transfer complex: photochemical control of intermolecular charge-transfer interaction

A diarylethene derivative bearing a phenylenediamine group formed radical ions with an electron acceptor molecule in solution, and the concentration of the radical ions was modulated by the photochromic reaction of the diarylethene, reflecting the difference in the electron-donating character between the open- and closed-ring isomers.

Dynamics and Mechanisms of the Multiphoton Gated Photochromic Reaction of Diarylethene Derivatives

The cycloreversion (ring-opening) process of one of the photochromic diarylethene derivatives, bis(2-methyl-5-phenylthiophen-3-yl)perfluorocyclopentene, was investigated by means of picosecond and femtosecond laser photolysis methods. The drastic enhancement of the reaction yield was observed only by the picosecond laser exposure. The excitation intensity effect of the reaction profiles revealed that the successive multiphoton absorption process leading to higher excited states opened the efficient cycloreversion process with a reaction yield of (50 +/- 10)%, while the one-photon absorption directly pumped to a higher excited state did not lead to the efficient cycloreversion reaction. These results indicate that not the energy of the excitation but the character of the electronic state takes an important role in the enhancement of the cycloreversion reaction.