Azophenols Tautomerizable Photochromes with Fast Switching Speeds

Azophenols Tautomerizable Photochromes with Fast Switching Speeds 

Azobenzene-based materials are kinetically controlled systems that is, after a photoinduced trans-to-cis conversion, the thermally activated cis-to-trans back reaction occurs spontaneously In the dark. In fact, the characteristic features of such materials and, in turn, their final applicability, are mostly related to the speed at which these two processes proceed. While the photoinduced isomerization 

Slow thermally isomerizing azo derivatives are exceptional building blocks for information storage devices. By contrast, for other applications, like optical oscillators and fast-responding artificial muscles, which will be described in the next sections of this chapter, it is essential that the return to the thermodynamically stable tmns form in the dark occurs as fast as possible. Specifically, hydroxy-substituted azobenzenes, commonly known as azophenols, are particularly attracting chromophores for this purpose since they are endowed with fast thermal isomerization rates under ambient conditions. 

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Azophenols Tautomerizable Photochromes with Fast Switching Speeds 2SS Excited state... 

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