Optical transistor, trapping on demand, and statistical analysis of single-molecule switching

Using molecular triads consisting of two strong chromophores covalently connected via a photochromic unit, we demonstrated the key functionalities of an optical transistor – gating and amplification.

We studied blends of chromophores and photochromic molecules demonstrating the regulation of excitation energy transfer in an organic matrix as a function an external stimulus. Moreover, we studied single photochromic units and performed a statistical analysis to address the difference between deliberate switching and unavoidable blinking.

Further reading:

• J. Thurn, J. Maier, M. Pärs, K. Gräf, M. Thelakkat, J. Köhler
  Temperature Dependence of the Conversion Efficiency of Photochromic Perylene Bisimide Dithienylcyclopentene Triads Embedded in a Polymer 
  Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 19 (2017), 26065-26071, DOI: 10.1039/c7cp03634e

• J. Maier, M. Pärs, T. Weller, M. Thelakkat, J. Köhler
  Deliberate Switching of Single Photochromic Triads 
  Scientific Reports 7 (2017) 41739-1 – 41739-8, DOI: 10.1038/srep41739

• M. Pärs, M. Gradmann, K. Gräf, P. Bauer, M. Thelakkat, J. Köhler
  Optical Gating with Organic Building Blocks. A Quantitative Model for the Fluorescence Modulation of Photochromic Perylene Bisimide Dithienylcyclopentene Triads 
  Scientific Reports 4 (2014) 4316-1 – 4316-6, DOI: 10.1038/srep04316

• R. Schmidt, M. Pärs, T. Weller, M. Thelakkat, J. Köhler
  Trapping on Demand: External Regulation of Excitation Energy Transfer in a photoswitchable Smart Matrix 
  Applied Physics Letters 104 (2014) 013304-4; dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4860984

• M. Pärs, K. Gräf, P. Bauer, M. Thelakkat, J. Köhler
  Optical gating of perylene bisimide fluorescence using dithienylcyclopentene photochromic switches
  Applied Physics Letters 103 (2013) 221115-1 – 221115-4; DOI: 10.1063/1.4837355
  classified as „Research Highlight“ , Nature Photonics 8 (2014) 84

• P. Bauer, M. Sommer, J. Thurn, M. Pärs, J. Köhler, M. Thelakkat
  A Photoswitchable Poly(3-hexylthiophene) 
  Chem. Commun. 49 (2013) 4637-4639, DOI: 10.1039/c3cc41765d

• M. Pärs, C.C. Hofmann, K. Willinger, P. Bauer, M. Thelakkat, J. Köhler
  An Organic Optical Transistor Operated under Ambient Conditions
  ​Ang. Chem. Int. Ed. 50 (2011) 11405-11408, DOI: 10.1002/anie.201104193