Synonyms
Definition
Photochromism is simply defined as a light-induced reversible transformation of a chemical species between two forms that have different absorption spectra. Photochromic materials are a well-known class of molecules that change their color upon irradiation with light. The photogenerated species can be reversed to the initial species either thermally or by subsequent irradiation with a specific wavelength of light [1–3]. Photochromic systems can be classified into two categories depending on the thermal stability of the photogenerated species: T-type (thermally reversible type), when the photogenerated isomers revert thermally to their initial forms; P-type (photochemically reversible type), when they do not revert to the initial isomers even at elevated temperatures. Azobenzenes, spiropyrans, spirooxazines, benzopyrans, naphthopyrans, and hexaarylbiimidazoles are typical T-type photochromic compounds, while diarylethenes with heterocyclic...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Crano JC, Guglielmetti RJ (1999) Organic photochromic and thermochromic compounds. Plenum Press, New York
Dürr H, Bouas-Laurent H (2003) Photochromism: molecules and systems. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Irie M, Yokoyama Y, Seki T (2013) New frontiers in photochromism. Springer, Tokyo
Feringa BL, Browne WR (2011) Molecular switches, 2nd edn. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim
Shinkai S, Nakaji T, Nishida Y, Ogawa T, Manabe O (1980) Photoresponsive crown ethers. 1. Cis-trans isomerism of azobenzene as a tool to enforce conformational changes of crown ethers and polymers. J Am Chem Soc 102:5860–5865. doi:10.1021/ja00538a026
Kinbara K, Aida T (2005) Toward intelligent molecular machines: directed motions of biological and artificial molecules and assemblies. Chem Rev 105:1377–1400. doi:10.1021/cr030071r
Ichimura K (2000) Photoalignment of liquid-crystal systems. Chem Rev 100:1847–1873. doi:10.1021/cr980079e
Ikeda T, Mamiya J, Yu Y (2007) Photomechanics of liquid-crystalline elastomers and other polymers. Angew Chem Int Ed 46:506–528. doi:10.1002/anie.200602372
Berkoviz G, Krongauz V, Weiss V (2000) Spiropyrans and spirooxazines for memories and switches. Chem Rev 100:1741–1753. doi:10.1021/cr9800715
Tamai N, Miyasaka H (2000) Ultrafast dynamics of photochromic systems. Chem Rev 100:1875–1890. doi:10.1021/cr9800816
Irie M (2000) Diarylethenes for memories and switches. Chem Rev 100:1685–1716. doi:10.1021/cr980069d
Kobatake S, Takami S, Muto H, Ishikawa T, Irie M (2007) Rapid and reversible shape changes of molecular crystals on photoirradiation. Nature 446:778–781. doi:10.1038/nature05669
Hayashi T, Maeda K (1960) Preparation of a new phototropic substance. Bull Chem Soc Jpn 33:565–566. doi:10.1246/bcsj.33.565
Bultmann T, Ernsting NP (1996) Competition between geminate recombination and solvation of polar radicals following ultrafast photodissociation of bis(p-aminophenyl) disulfide. J Phys Chem 100:19417–19424. doi:10.1021/jp962151n
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this entry
Cite this entry
Abe, J., Yamashita, H., Mutoh, K. (2013). Photochromism. In: Kobayashi, S., Müllen, K. (eds) Encyclopedia of Polymeric Nanomaterials. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36199-9_119-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36199-9_119-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-36199-9
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Chemistry and Mat. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics