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LED switching of spiropyran-doped polymer films

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Abstract

Spiropyrans are a well-known family of photochromic compounds that switch from uncoloured to highly coloured upon exposure to UV light with potential applications such as optical switches and memory storage devices. Typically the light sources used for controlling the state of the spiropyran are high power sources such as mercury lamps and lasers. Here we report the use of low power light emitting diodes (LEDs) to actuate the colour change in spiropyran-doped polymer films. The use of LEDs as an effective means of switching the dye expands the possible applications of these types of photochromic materials.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge Science Foundation Ireland (SFI03/IN3/1361) for funding. We would like to thank Gene Dalton and Dr. Roderick Shepard for helpful discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adaptive Sensors Group, National Centre for Sensor Research, School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland

    Shannon Stitzel, Robert Byrne & Dermot Diamond

Authors
  1. Shannon Stitzel
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  2. Robert Byrne
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  3. Dermot Diamond
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Correspondence to Dermot Diamond.

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Stitzel, S., Byrne, R. & Diamond, D. LED switching of spiropyran-doped polymer films. J Mater Sci 41, 5841–5844 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-0289-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-0289-z

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