Modulation of a fluorescent switch based on a controllable photochromic diarylethene shutter

Abstract

A convenient system of modulation of a fluorescent switch based on photoisomerization of diarylethene has been demonstrated by employing 9,10-anthracenedinaphthalene 1 and benzothiazole diarylethene 2a as the fluorescence dye and the photochromic compound, respectively. The fluorescence change of 1 is modulated easily by photoisomerization of 2a, which is doped into the fluorescence dye, in solution as well as in a polymer film. The changes of fluorescence intensity of 1 between the “on” and “off” states are significant in both solution and polymer film and more than 20 cycles in solution and 10 cycles in polymer of fluorescence switching are achieved without distinguished change in fluorescence intensity.