Core/Sheath Organic Nanocable Constructed with a Master–Slave Molecular Pair for Optically Switched Memories

Abstract

Here, we propose a new approach to solve this problem by distributing the above functions to two optoelectronically coupled molecules. Briefl y, a molecule with good photochromic switching properties is used as a “master” molecule. Via optoelectronic coupling, the master molecule will control a “slave” molecule that has no photochromic properties but has good electrical and/or optical properties. The essential optoelectronic coupling is achieved here with a core/sheath nanocable structure, which provides intimate contact between the “master” and the “slave” molecules. Through this design, molecules with more specialized functions can be developed individually, thus meeting the need for developing all-round materials. Here, we demonstrate the above concept with a core/sheath nanocable constructed with two small molecular materials with matched energy levels to enable optoelectronic coupling. The photochromic master molecule used here is a diarylethene derivative, 1-[2-methyl-5-phenyl-3-thienyl]-2-[2-methyl-5-( p -(methyl)phenyl)3-thienyl]-hexaflne ( MPT–MMPT–HFCP ), which has been widely studied for its excellent photochromic properties. [ 1–7 , 14 ] Coronene is used as the slave molecule for the following reasons: 1) it has a large aromatic system and is a good holetransporting semiconductor, with electrical properties that have potential tunability upon combined use with MPT-MMPT-HFCP ; 2) its photoluminescence (PL) spectrum has extensive overlap with the absorption spectrum of MPT-MMPT-HFCP , which may induce effi cient intermolecular energy transfer for the emission modulation; and 3) the π – π interaction between polycyclic aromatic molecules would provide driving force for self-assembling