New molecules switch reversibly using light and heat

Scientists at Osaka Metropolitan University have synthesized new molecules called aza-diarylethenes that can reversibly change their structure in response to both light and heat. These molecules represent a significant advancement over previous phase-change materials, which were limited in their capacity to rewrite data. Aza-diarylethenes introduce the ability to use both light and heat for reversible switching, expanding potential applications from data storage to medical fields like photopharmacology.

Graduate School of Engineering student Shota Hamatani, along with Dr. Daichi Kitagawa and Professor Seiya Kobatake, synthesized these compounds by incorporating nitrogen atoms into the molecular framework of conventional photoswitching diarylethenes. The result was molecules that not only respond to light but also exhibit thermal switching properties.

The research demonstrated the use of these molecules as a rewritable medium, where information could be encoded with either light or heat and then erased using light. "Our findings are very useful for the development of switching molecules that can be reversibly altered not only by light, but also by heat," Dr. Kitagawa proclaimed. "They may also lead to the development of new functional materials."

Research Report:Aza-Diarylethenes Undergoing Both Photochemically and Thermally Reversible Electrocyclic Reactions