A novel photoresponsive π-conjugated polymer based on diarylethene and its photoswitching effect in electrical conductivity

Photochromic conductivity modulation of conjugated polymers containing a diarylethene unit with high photochromic conversion ratios is described. The electrical conductivity can be switched quasi-reversibly from the bleached low-conductivity state (Figure, left) and the blue high-conductivity state (right) by alternate irradiation with visible and UV light, and may lead to applications in photon-mode molecular memory devices.