Light-triggered molecular devices based on photochromic oligothiophene substituted chromenes

An original concept for the realization of a molecular photoswitch is proposed, based on photochrochromic oligothiophene-substituted chromenes. When optically excited, these compounds undergo a structural change passing from a neutral state (closed form) to a strongly polarized one (open form). This photochromism process is also accompanied by a large increase in the electrical conductivity. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.