Metal-organic approach to binary optical memory

Two new Ru(II) diimine chromophores, each containing a single photochromic dianthryl unit, have been prepared and characterized. The photoluminescence from the Ru(II) complexes is modulated by the photochromic action of the dianthryl species, which serves as a triplet energy transfer quencher in one photochromic state. The coupling of the dianthryl photochromic action to the Ru(II) complex emission permits nondestructive photoluminescence readout of binary information photochemically recorded on the molecular level. Luminescent images stored on polystyrene films that contain these molecules maintained their integrity for periods of months with no apparent degradation or variation in the image resolution, suggesting their durability for long-term storage in read-only memory applications. Copyright © 2002 American Chemical Society.