Synthesis and characterization of azo-containing organometallic thin films for all optical switching applications

Multi-wavelength optical data processing and recording based on azo-dyes doped organic-inorganic hybrid film

While single wavelength all-optical information encoding through optically induced orientation of azobenzene dyes is being extensively pursued, we propose multi-wavelength optical data processing and recording based on disperse red 1 (DR1) and 4-(4-hydroxybutyloxy) azobenzene doped organic-inorganic hybrid films to increase the density of recording data. By investigating the change of absorbance spectrum of the doped film under different irradiations, results indicate a laser pulses around 470 nm would be suitable as the probe beam. In the measurement of optical data processing and recording, two cw lasers pulse at 532 nm and 355 nm induce trans-cis isomerization of the azo-dyes in the film, while the output of the probe beam record the processed data as {(-1), (0), (1)} according to different inputs of the pump beams. Since the light induced isomerization has a sensitive response in the as-prepared solid organic-inorganic matrix system, the films is promising as recording and monitoring element in all-optical devices over a wide range of repetition rates.