Multiscale Approach of Photochromism: Synthesis and Photochromic Properties of a Diarylethene in Solution, in Nanoparticles, and in Bulk Crystals

Abstract

A new photochromic diarylethene, 1,2-bis(5′-ethoxy-2′-(2″-pyridyl) thiazolyl) perfluorocyclopentene (1), is synthesized. Nanoparticles are obtained by laser ablation at both 355 and 532 nm, corresponding to the absorption wavelengths of the open and the closed forms. 1 can be reversibly photoswitched in various states: organic solution, bulk crystal, nanoparticle colloidal solution, and single nanoparticle, as demonstrated by dark-field scattering spectroscopy. Detailed facts of importance to specialist readers are published as ”Supporting Information”. Such documents are peer-reviewed, but not copy-edited or typeset. They are made available as submitted by the authors. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.