Memory Effects Based on Intermolecular Photoinduced Proton Transfer

摘要: We have identified a strategy to communicate chemical signal between two independent molecular components. One of them is photoactive merocyanine that switches spiropyran, releasing proton, when stimulated with visible light. The other 4,4'-pyridylpyridinium monocation captures the released producing an electroactive 4,4'-bipyridinium dication. Under irradiation conditions employed, photoinduced transformation requires ca. 15 min reach photostationary state. In dark, ensemble communicating molecules reequilibrates original state in 5 days. These processes can be monitored following enhancement and thermal decay, respectively, current for monolectronic reduction pronounced difference time scale decay steps exploited implement memory element bit retention 11 h. A information written optically system it read electrically nondestructively. reset, extending its permanence dark beyond time. binary logic analysis transduction operated by reveals characteristic behavior sequential operators, which are basic components digital memories.